ORDER

In SLP (C) Nos. 8221-82 and 10357/96

Mr. R.C. Verma, Learned counsel seeks permission to withdraw these petitions. They are accordingly dismissed as withdrawn.

In CA Nos. 923-984/97 (@ SLP (C) Nos. 4151, 4694 and 4702-4761/96 :

Application for intervention is allowed.

Leave granted. We have heard learned counsel on both sides.

2. These appeals by special leave arise from the Division Bench judgment of the Punjab & Haryana High Court, made on December 20, 1995 in CWP No. 6816 of 1995 and batch.

3. The admitted facts are that the posts of Canal Patwaris in the Irrigation Department of the State of Haryana are class III posts in the State service. Earlier, they were called Irrigation Booking Clerks and came to be designated as Patwaris in 1981. Prior to the formation of the State of Haryana on November 1, 1966, the recruitment of Canal Patwaris was governed by the Punjab Public Works Department (Irrigation Branch) Patwaris State Service, Class III Rules, 1955 (for short, 1955 Rules ) issued under proviso to Article 309 of the Constitution. Rule 2(i) defines "Apprentice Patwari" to mean a person who after passing the patwar examination is posted a reserve against 7% of the limiting sca