ORDER Hon’ble Ms. Harvinder Kaur Oberoi, Member (J):

1.M.A. No. 2399/2018 seeking permission to join together in a single Original Application is allowed for the reasons stated therein.

2. The present Original Application arises out of a challenge to the Recruitment Rules dated 02.04.2018 framed for appointment to the post of Assistant Accounts Officer in the Indian Postal and Telecommunications Accounts and Finance Services Group ‘B’ Gazetted cadre. The applicants are employees serving in the accounts hierarchy under the Department of Telecommunications and Department of Posts. Applicant Nos. 1 and 2 are working as Lower Division Clerks in the Telecom Wing, Applicant No.3 is serving as Senior Accountant in the Postal Wing, and Applicant No.4 is serving as Junior Accountant in the Telecom Wing. The grievance of the applicants is that the impugned Recruitment Rules adversely affect their promotional avenues and career progression within the organized accounts service.

3. Counsel for the applicants submits that the IP&TAFS is a specialized organized accounts service constituted after departmentalization of Union Accounts under the Act of 1976. Initially, Recruitment Rules for the post o