K. N. Singh, J.

1. BY means of this petition under Article 226 of the Constitution, the petitioners, who are in the service of the Northern Railway as Grade B Guards and Grade C Guards, have challenged the selection of respondents Nos. 4 to 8 for appointment to the posts in Grade A Guards. The petitioners have claimed relief for quashing the Railway Circulars dated 27th August, 1968 and 20th April, 1970 but during the course of the argument, the petitioners have confined their relief to the quashing of the selection of the aforesaid respondents.

2. IN the Railway service, there are three classes of Guards, namely. Guards A Garde in the pay scale of Rs. 205-7-240-8-280, Guards B Grade in the pay scale 150-5-175-6-205-EB-7-240 and Guards C Garde in the pay Scale of 130-4-170-EB-5-200-EB-5-225. The three categories of Guards belong to the category of Class III posts in Railway Service. Under the existing service rules and the circulars issued by the Railway Board, initial recruitment is made in the Grade C Guards, B Grade Guards are appointed by promotion from Guards Grade C on the basis of seniority while appointments to the post of Grade A Guards are made by selection from th