: 1. The only point involved in these appeals is whether the High Court was justified in holding that the State Government while providing alternative employment to the respondents who were appointed on probation to the posts of Attendants under the Nagarjunasagar Canal Project and had been rendered surplus on completion of the Project could not be transferred to the Posts of Survey Lascars carried on a lower pay-scale. The High Court held that the State Government could not affect the transfer of the respondents to a lower post of Survey Lascar carrying a lower time scale and accordingly issued a writ of mandamus directing the State Government to protect their pay-scale. 2. Shri T.V.S.N. Chari, learned counsel appearing for the appellants with his usual persuasion, tried to justify the action of the State Government by contending that the respondents were mere probationers Order dated March 8, 1984 in Civil Appeals Nos. 1374-78 of 1979. and that they had no right to the posts of Attendants carried on a higher pay-scale. It was urged that the posts of Attendants had become surplus on completion of the Project and therefore the respondents were liable to be retrenched, but the State Government, on humanitarian grounds, transferred them to the posts of Survey Lascars. It is said that there were a large number of such persons affected and the State Government could not possibly offer equivalent employment with the same pay-scale to all of them. We are afraid, we see no ground justifying our interference with the order of the High Court. Admittedly, the respondents were probationers and it was not open to the State Government to transfer them to a lower post of Survey Lascar carrying a lower time scale to their disadvantage. 3. Accordingly, the appeals must fail and are dismissed. Since the respondents have not appeared, there will be no order as to costs.