1. Challenging the action of the respondents in not granting senior pay-scale to the petitioner and rejecting his claim for grant of the aforesaid benefit vide order dated 28.7.1999, this petition was filed before the State Administrative Tribunal in the year 2000 and after winding up of the Tribunal, matter stands transferred to this Court.

2. Petitioner was initially appointed as Deputy Collector and joined the service on 13.6.1988. He was declared permanent with effect from 17.7.1990 vide order Annexure A-I dated 24.8.1991. After completing 8 years of regular service in the post petitioner became eligible for grant of senior pay-scale as per rules 21 of the Madhya Pradesh State Administrative Service Rules, 1975 (hereinafter referred to as "the Rule of 1975"). Grievance of the petitioner is that he fulfilled all the necessary criteria for selection and grant of senior pay-scale which is to be made on the basis of principle of 'seniority-cum-merit', but his claim has been rejected after considering it from various periods, i.e., ending 1st January, 1995, 1st January, 1996 and 1st January, 1997 respectively. Inter alia contending that procedure adopted by the Departmental Sele