Heard learned Counsel for the petitioners and learned standing Counsel.

2. The petitioners have challenged the impugned order dated 13-3-2002 Annexure-1 to the writ petition and prayed for a mandamus directing the respondents to regularize their services on the post of Assistant Engineer in Meerut Development Authority under Rule 20-A as amended by U. P. Development Authority Centralised Service (Seventh Amendment Rules), 2001. This case has a chequered history as mentioned in the writ petition but it is not necessary to go into the same as the petition can be disposed of on a short point. The petitioners were appointed on various dates as Assistant Engineers in Meerut Development Authority. These appointment dates are from 1-10-88 to 1-2-91 vide paragraph 6 to the writ petition and Annexure-6 to the writ petition. Thus all the petitioners were appointed before 29-6- 91.

3. Rule 20-A of the U. P. Development Authority Centralised Services (Third Amendment Rules), 1997 stated as follows:-

"rule 20-A2.-In the Uttar Pradesh Development Authority (Centralised) Services Rules 1985 after Rule 20 the following rule shall be inserted -

20-A (1) Regularisation of Ad-hoc Appointme