JUDGMENT

This petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India by the two petitioners is directed against the order dated 10/17.10.2012 passed by the respondent No. 1-Union of India, in Ministry of Civil Aviation, whereby a direction is given to fix the seniority of the merged employees and officers of International Airports Authority of India (hereinafter referred to as IAAI for brevity) and National Airports Authority (hereinafter referred to as NAA for brevity) from the date on which the common Recruitment and Promotion Regulations in Airports Authority of India (hereinafter referred to as AAI for short), were implemented. It is contended that there was a difficulty in fixing the seniority of the merged officers and employees of AAI and, therefore, the matter was referred to the Central Government. Three committees were constituted in succession, which gave their reports. The third Committee at the last gave a definite finding as to why the seniority of such merged employees should be determined with effect from the year 2009. The Central Government though accepted the entire recommendations made by the third Committee, yet the report of the second Committee was accepted o