Mr. Tejinder Singh Dhindsa, J.:- The petitioners raise a challenge to the seniority list dated 26.03.2013 (Annexure P-5) of the Assistant Directors under the Department of Animal Husbandry, Fisheries and Dairy Development Punjab, wherein they have been shown junior to private respondent No.4.

2. Undisputed facts are that the petitioners who all belong to the general category were initially appointed as Fishery Officers on 28.09.1978, 28.09.1978 and 13.02.1980 respectively. Respondent No.4 who belongs to the scheduled castes category was appointed subsequently as Fishery Officer on 23.06.1980. However, by enjoying the benefit of reservation, respondent No.4 earned promotion as Senior Fishery Officer on 22.09.1987 and was further granted promotion as Assistant Director on 10.09.1990. In comparison the petitioners earned promotions as per their turn as Senior Fishery Officer on 19.12.1990, 15.10.1991 and 01.01.1992 respectively and thereafter were promoted as Assistant Directors vide order dated 29.07.2005.

3. A tentative seniority list of Assistant Directors was circulated on 16.11.2007 in which the petitioners were shown at seniority Nos.10, 14 and 15 respectively whereas r