M. Katju, J.

By means of this writ petition the Petitioner prays for regularisation as Assistant Engineer in the U.P. Public Works Department in accordance with the U.P Regularisation of ad hoc promotions Rules, 1988 (Annexure 7 to the writ petition). The Petitioner had obtained a Diploma in Civil Engineering and he joined the Public Works Department, U.P. on 20-6-1956 as a trainee Overseer. On successful completion of his training he was appointed as ad hoc Overseer on 23-10-1956 and as officiating Overseer on 20-6-1957 The Petitioner's appointment as an Overseer was approved by the U.P. Public Service Commission in 1959 and he was placed in the list of Overseers prepared by the Commission; The nomenclature of the post of Overseer was changed to Junior Engineer in 1959 and the Petitioner was confirmed in the said post. The Petitioner has been promoted as Assistant Engineer in 1981 and be has been working as Assistant Engineer in ad hoc capacity since then. Now by this writ petition the Petitioner prays that he should be considered for regularisation first before promoting other Junior Engineers who are not working as Assistant Engineers.

2. A counter affidavit has been fil