JUDGMENT :

[Judgment was delivered by S.M.SUBRAMANIAM, J.]

Prayer in WA.No.298/2020: Writ Appeal filed under Clause 15 of Letters Patent to set aside the order dated 08.07.2019 made in W.P.No.7306 of 2012 allow this writ appeal.

Prayer in WA.No.299/2020: Writ Appeal filed under Clause 15 of Letters Patent to set aside the order dated 08.07.2019 made in W.P.No.7329 of 2012 allow this writ appeal.

The State preferred the appeals challenging the writ order granting retrospective promotion to the post of Sub Inspector of Police in favour of the respondents.

2. The respondents were appointed as Grade-II Police Constable (Armed Reserve) in the Tamil Nadu Police Service. The respondents were promoted to the post of Head Constable (Armed Reserve). The next avenue promotion is Sub Inspector of Police (Armed Reserve). The case of the respondents are that the Range Promotion Board Test was not conducted periodically and there was an enormous delay on the part of the authorities in conducting the Promotion Board Test. The Range Promotion Board Test was abolished by the Government in G.O.Ms.No.1055, Home (Police.III) Department dated 01.11.2006. Thereafter, promotion to the post of Sub Inspector of