( 1 ) THESE petitions raise common question of law and being grounded on same set of facts were taken up together for convenient disposal by a common judgment. The petitioners of Writ petition No. 41634 of 1999 who are Senior Assistant Engineers belonging to the Electrical and mechanical cadre of Uttar Pradesh State Electricity Board (hereinafter referred to as the Board)have prayed for issuance of writ of mandamus commanding the respondents to make promotion to the posts of Executive Engineer in consonance with the law laid down by the Supreme Court in Indra Sawhney v. Union of India, and not to extend the benefit of reservation in promotion for officers belonging to Scheduled Castes/scheduled Tribes to the posts of Executive Engineer. Promotion of Mewa Lal (SC) from the post of Superintending Engineer to the post of Chief engineer vide order dated 30. 10. 1999 (Annexure-1) to Writ Petition No. 46973 of 1999 is sought to be quashed on the ground that he has been illegally given the benefit of reservation in a post to be filled by promotion under the Service Regulations on the basis of merit.

( 2 ) WE have heard Sri Ravi Kiran Jain, senior advocate representing the