S. P. Goyal, J. - (1.) This judgment will dispose of two petitions (Civil Writ Petitions Nos. 1761 and 2408 of 1978) which apart from different dated of appointment of the two petitioners, involve identical question of law. For the purpose of this judgment, the pleadings in Civil Writ Petition No. 1761 of 1978 have been noticed.
(2.) Rabindra Nath Vasudeva, petitioner (in Civil Writ Petition No 1761 of 1978), was selected by the Punjab Public Service Commission for appointment against a temporary post of Deputy Superintendent of Police and in accordance with the directions in the appointment letter (Annexure P-l to the writ petition) dated June 22, 1966, he joined the Police Training School, Phillaur, on June 26, 1966. Similarly, Hart Singh Ahlawat, petitioner (in Civil Writ Petition No. 2408 of 1978), was offered the post of Deputy Superintendent of Police on selection by the Punjab Public Service Commission and joined the Police Training School, Phillaur, on Aug. 1, 1966. On the reorganisation of the State of Punjab, both the petitioners were allotted to the State of Haryana with effect from Nov. 1, 1966. The private respondents in both the petitions are also Deputy Superintendents of Police who were appointed as such by promotion from amongst the Inspectors. The dispute between the two petitioners and the said respondents is regarding inter se seniority between them and the date from which they were entitled to be confirmed to the Haryana Police Service.
(3.) The recruitment and other service conditions of the members of the Haryana Police Service are governed by the Punjab Police Service Rules, 1959 (hereinafter called the Service Rules). Rule 3 provides that the service shall comprise of the posts specified in Appendix 'A' to the Service Rules. The designation of the post in Appendex 'A' is shown to be Deputy Superintendent of Police and prior to the reorganisation of the State of Punjab, the strength of the cadre shown in the Appendix was 66 At the time of the reorganization, 14 permanent posts fell to the share of Haryana State which constituted the said service. The remaining Deputy Superintendents of Police allotted to the State of Haryana were working on temporary or officiating basis.;