M.R. Sharma, J. - (1.) COMMON questions of law involving the interpretation and Constitutional validity of the instructions relating to the reservation of promotional posts for the members of the scheduled castes/tribes and backward classes are involved in Civil Writ Petitions Nos. 6409 of 1975, 976 of 1974 and 998 of 1976, which were admitted to hearing by a Full Bench. All of them are being disposed of by this judgment.
(2.) CIVIL Writ Petition No. 6409 of 1975, has been filed by -six employees of the State of Punjab. The Petitioners Nos. 1 and 2 are serving in the Secretariat as Deputy Superintendents and Petitioners Nos. 3 to 6 are serving as Assistants. The Petitioner No. 1 entered service of the Patiala and East Punjab States Union as a Clerk on May 3, 1945. He was promoted to the post of an Assistant on December 14, 1957, and to the post of a Deputy Superintendent on January 10, 1975. He is 51 years old.
(3.) THE Petitioner No. 2 joined the service of the erstwhile State of Punjab as a Clerk on October 30, 1948. He was promoted as an Assistant on January 11, 1958, and as Deputy Superintendent on September 25, 1975. He is 52 years old.;