- (1.) The petitioners, who belong to the General category were initially appointed on the post of Fishery Officers on 28.09.1978, 28.09.1978 and 13.02.1980 respectively under the Department of Animal Husbandry, Fisheries and Dairy Development Department, Punjab. Private respondent No. 4, who belongs to reserved S.C. category, was appointed on the post of Fishery Officer later on 23.6.1980. However, on the basis of his reservation, private respondent No. 4 was further promoted as Senior Fishery Officer on 22.09.1987 as also to the post of Assistant Director on 10.09.1990. On the other hand, the petitioner were promoted as Senior Fishery Officers on 19.12.1990, 15.10.1991 and 01.01.1992 respectively. They were further promoted as Assistant Director vide orders dated 29.07.2005. The tentative seniority of Group 'B' officers of Fisheries Department, Assistant Director, Fisheries/Assistant Project Officer, Fisheries and Chief Executive Officer, Fisheries Development Agency were issued on 01.4.2007, wherein the names of the petitioners have been reflected at Sr. No. 10, 14 and 15 and the name of private respondent No. 4 has been reflected at Sr. No. 18.
(2.) Learned counsel for the petitioners would submit that such tentative seniority list was rightly determined in the light of the dictum of Hon'ble Apex Court in the case of Ajit Singh Janjua and others vs. State of Punjab and others,1999 4 RSJ 211, wherein it has been held that the seniority of such employees, who belong to the General category would have to be restored as and when such General category employees catch up with the reserved category employees upon promotion to the higher posts.
(3.) Learned counsel submits that the sole grievance raised in the present petition is that in spite of the tentative seniority list having been circulated way back in the year 2007, the same has not been finalized as of date.;