ORDER

Per: Justice Sunil Thomas, Judicial Member –

All the applicants were appointed in the Chennai Division of Southern Railway during the period 2016-2017 as Assistants in Carriage and Wagon (C&W) Wing of Southern Railway. While so, they were transferred on request of the applicants to Palakkad and on transfer they joined Palakkad Division during various dates in May, 2022. While so, Annexure A1 notification dated 31.8.2022 for selection to the post of Technician-II in C&W against 25% LDCE quota was issued. The concerned Rule governing the skilled Artisan including the applicants was Rule 159 of Indian Railway Establishment Manual (IREM), a copy of which was produced as Annexure A3. The service condition prescribed in Annexure A1 was that the applicant should have rendered minimum 2 years of service as Assistant in C&W, as on the date of notification. This was corresponding to RBE 3 of 2019, a copy of which was produced as Annexure A4. The applicants claiming that they have satisfied the service condition responded to the notification. However, their applications were rejected by Annexure A2 by referring to RBE 34 of 2006. The said RBE, a copy of which was produced as Annexure A5