Hon’ble A.P. Sahi, J.—These writ petitions raise common questions relating to the transfer of police personnel from civil police to armed police and their repatriation. The controversy centers around Regulation 525 of the U.P. Police Regulations which is quoted hereinbelow :

“Constable of less than two years’ service may be transferred by the Superintendent of Police from the armed to the civil police or viceversa. Foot police constable may be transferred to the mounted police at their own request. Any civil police constable of more than two and less than ten years’ service may be transferred to the armed police and viceversa by the Superintendent for a period not exceeding six months in any one year. All armed police constables of over two years’ service and civil police constables of over two and under ten years’ service may be transferred to the other branch of the force for any period with the permission of the Deputy Inspector General.

In all other cases the transfer of police officers from one branch of the force to another or from police service of other Provinces to the Uttar Pradesh Police requires the sanction of the Inspector General.”

2. The power of transfer is co