Judgment

H . R. KHANNA, J. :- This is a petition under Article 32 of the Constitution of India by Malcom Lawrence Cecil D souza. Additional Commissioner of Income-tax for an appropriate writ to quash the seniority list of the Additional Commissioners of Income-tax as on February 1, 1971 circulated by the Government of India, Ministry of Finance. The petitioner claims that he is senior to respondents 4 to 26, but in the impugned list he is shown junior to those respondents. Prayer has also been made by the petitioner for other consequential reliefs. Apart from respondents 4 to 26. the petitioner has impleaded the Union of India, the Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Department of Revenue and the Chairman,Central Board of Direct Taxes as respondents1 to 3.

2. The petitioner served in the Royal Navy as a Sublieutenant from March 1945 till November 1946 when he was released from the naval service because of the end of war. On July 1,1947 the petitioner was appointed Income-tax Officer Class II. On August 12, 1949 the Petitioner was appointed Income-tax Officer Class I Grade II in post-1945 vacancy reserved for candidates with war service. On January 24, 1950 a seniority list of Income-tax