- (1.) The present LPA filed by the appellants arises out of the judgment dated 25.1.1996 rendered by the learned Single Judge in CWP No. 10212 of 1991.
(2.) In the aforesaid writ petition, the petitioners prayed for the issuance of directions to the official respondents to promote the petitioners as Agriculture Inspectors (re-designated as Agriculture Development Officers) with effect from the dates their juniors were promoted by declaring that the conditions of eligibility for requirement of passing the Agriculture Sub Inspectors' Training Course, as illegal and void.
(3.) The appellants were serving as an Agriculture Sub Inspectors in the Agriculture Department of the State of Punjab. They had completed almost 20 years of service and two of them, namely, Harbant Singh and Mohinder Singh had completed about 35 years of service. Despite the appellants having completed 20 to 35 years of service, they were not being considered for promotion to the post of Agriculture Inspectors (Agriculture Development Officers) which amounted to discrimination against them. It was submitted that para (e) of the Instructions circulated by the government vide letter dated 19.1.1983 requiring the passing of Agriculture Sub Inspectors' Training Course as a condition for promotion to the post of Agriculture Inspectors was arbitrary and violative of Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution of India. The contention as raised by the appellants having been rejected by the learned Single Judge vide his impugned judgment, they have filed the present LPA.;