Ashok Bhushan, J.

This writ petition has been filed by the petitioners praying for a writ, order or direction In the nature of mandamus directing the authority concerned to follow the promotion policy from the class IV employee to class III employee as per Government direction forthwith. A further prayer has been made for directing the authority concerned to follow the norms for promotion of class IV employee as is followed for promotion of class III employee to Trade Tax Officer Grade II. Counter and rejoinder-affidavits have been exchanged and with the consent of the parties the writ petition is being finally decided.

2. The facts of the case as emerge from the pleadings of the parties are that the petitioners are working as class IV employees in Trade Tax Department of State of Uttar Pradesh. The date of appointment and the qualifications of the petitioners have been mentioned in paragraph 2 to the writ petition. Petitioners were appointed on various dates between March, 1974 to November, 1988. Petitioners' case in the writ petition is that after completion of five y