O R D E R

HON'BLE Ms.V.RAMA MATHEW, ADMINISTRATIVE MEMBER

1.The factual matrix of the case are as under – the applicants are working as Social Security Assistants (SSA) under the 2^nd respondent, attached to the offices of the 5^th and 6^th respondents. The 1^st and 3^rd applicants initially entered service as LDCs on 01.06.1993 and 25.05.1993 respectively in the Ministry of Labour, Urban Development, New Delhi and subsequently joined the 2^nd respondent’s office at Thiruvananthapuram in 1995 and 1994 respectively. The 2^nd applicant entered service as LDC on 31.05.1996, while the 4^th applicant was appointed as LDC on 31.03.1995 on compassionate grounds.

2. At the time of their entry into service, the next promotional post was UDC with promotions governed by a 50:50 ratio of seniority and departmental examination. However, no examinations were conducted between 1997 and 2004 for filling UDC posts under the examination quota, adversely affecting the applicants’ promotional prospects and seniority. With effect from 03.01.2004, new Recruitment Rules were introduced, a copy of which is produced as Annexure A-1, abolishing the LDC cadre and redesignating UDC as SSA with enhanced qualifications in