- (1.) Heard learned counsel for the appellants and Sri Ashish Kumar Pandey, holding brief of Sri Subodh Kumar Verma, for the respondent Nos.1 to 6. Learned Standing Counsel appears for the respondent Nos.7 to 9. Respondent Nos.10 to 13 are proforma parties inasmuch as they have already retired.
(2.) The dispute of seniority is pending before the learned Single Judge. The appellants did not choose to file their counter affidavit, but it is undisputed that a counter affidavit and a supplementary counter affidavit had been filed on behalf of the State-respondents. The order impugned in the writ petition is dated 09.09.2013. The dispute raised is with regard to extending the benefits of retrospective seniority to the appellants and the same was challenged on the strength of two judgments that have been referred to in the impugned order.
(3.) The learned Single Judge found the matter worth considering but on account of non-filing of the counter affidavit on behalf of the appellants, proceeded to grant an interim order staying the operation of the impugned order dated 09.09.2013.;