JUDGMENT RAVI S. DHAVAN, CJ.:- All things considered this very old issue and several litigations must be resolved by first going into the very root of the matter which throws light on the origin of the recruitment of surveyors in context. At the time when the nation became a republic, five years plans were to be executed. These were plans on economic and industrial developments and other allied and consequential matters. It is on record that there was paucity of qualified engineers. But, as the plans could not wait till the entire army of the qualified engineers was available, it was decided by the State Government that surveyors be recruited to put the five year plans into implementation and execution. This aspect is on record. The circular of the Public Works Department, Bihar bearing no. 24612 dated 13.12.1976. was also notified in the Bihar Gazette. This is available to the Court from Annexure-4 in the Letters Patent Appeal No. 913 of 1996. Instead of interpreting the circular, as it goes to the root of the matter. It is reproduced. This aspect is on record. The circular of the Public Works Department, Bihar bearing no. 24612 dated 13.12.1976. was also notified in the Bihar Gazette. This is available to the Court from Annexure-4 in the Letters Patent Appeal No. 913 of 1996. Instead of interpreting the circular, as it goes to the root of the matter. It is reproduced. 1 <span class="Hfont">,usDlpj & 22 fcgkj ljdkj yksd fuekZ.k foHkkx ladYi dk;Z fo”k;% yksd fuekZ.k ,ao vU; dbZ foHkkxksa esa voj duh; vfHk;Urk dk in ij dk;Zjr voj duh; vfHk;Urk dks duh; vfHk;Urk ds in in izksUufrA yksd fuekZ.k ,oa vU; dk;Z foHkkxksa esa izFke iapo”khZ; ;kstuk ds izkjafHkd dky esa fodkl dk;ksZ ds lEiknu ds fy, flfoy vfHk;ark fM+Iyksek/kkjh mEehnokjksa dh deh ds dkj.k dk;Zokgh esa flfoy vfHk;ark fMIyksek ls dqN de ;ksX;rk okys oSls vkbZ- Vh- vkbZ- enzkl Ldwy vkWQ baftfu;fjax ls izkoSf/kd ijh{kksRrhZ.k izek.k i= okys dks duh; vfHk;Urk ls fuEu osrueku esa fu;qDr fd;k x;k Fkk orZeku esa ,sls voj duh; vfHk;ark dks lsok vof/k foHkkx esa 12 ls 18 o”kZ rd dh x;h gS rFkk budks izksUufr vc rd dksbZ izko/kku ugha fd;k tk ldk gSA vr% dk;Z foHkkxksa esa dk;Zjr bu voj duh; vfHk;Urkvksa dks duh; vfHk;ark ds in ij izksUufr djus dk izLrko dk fopkj djrs gq, rRdkyhu eq[; ea=h vkns’kkuqlkj jkT; ds lHkh dk;Z foHkkxksa esa dk;Zjr voj duh; vfHk;Urkvksa dh duh; vfHk;Urk ds in ij izksUufr ds fy;s lHkh dk;Z foHkkxksa ds vfHk;Urk izeq[k@eq[; vfHk;Urkvksa ds la;qDr cSBd esa fn;s x;s ijke’kZ ds v/kkj ij dqN ‘krksZ ds lkFk ,sls lHkh dk;Zjr ds in ij izksUufr nsus dk fu.kZ; fy;k x;kA 2- eq[;ea=h ds vkns’kkuqlkj lHkh dk;Z foHkkxksa ds vfHk;Urk izeq[k@eq[; vfHk;Urkvksa dh lfEefyr cSBd esa voj duh; vfHk;Urk dks duh; vfHk;Urk ds in ij izksUufr nsus ds fy, fuEufyf[kr ‘krsZ fu/kkZfjr dh x;hA 1½ voj duh; vfHk;Urk ds in ij de ls de 10 ¼nl½ o”kksZ dh yxkrkj lsok gksuh pkfg;sA 2½ budks bl 10 o”kZ dh lsok vof/k esa 6 o”kksZ dh pfj= iqfLr larks”kizn jguk pkfg;sA ftles vfUre rhu o”kksZ dh miyC/k iqfLrdk dh vH;qfDrx.k larks”kizn gksuk pkfg;sA 3½ mUgsa fdlh Hkh fo’ofo|ky; vFkok cksMZ esa iwoZ f’kdksRrh ijh{kksRrhZ.k gksuk pkfg;sA 4½ mUgsa fdlh Hkh le; ds eU;rk izkIr fo|ky; ls izkoSf/kdh izf’k{k.k ijh{kksRrh.kZ izek.k i= gksuk pkfg, oSls vkbZ-Vh-vkbZ-,oa fdlh Ldwy vkWQ bathfu;fjax vkfnA tks flfoy vfHk;ar.k fM+Iyksek ijh{kk esa vuqRrhZ.k gS ;k ,sls fMIyksek ijh{kk esa vuqRrhZ.k voj duh; vfHk;Urk ftUgksus ckn esa fMIyksek izkIr dj fy;k gS tSls lHkh dk;ZHkkfjr ,oa fu;fer in ds fo:} dk;Zjr voj duh; vfHk;Urk izksUufr ds ;ksX; ekus tk;A 5½ ,sls O;fDr;ksa dks tks u izosf’kdk ijh{kksRrhZ.k gS vkSj u izkoSf/kd izek.k i= ds gh vf/kd gks duh; vfHk;Urk ds in ij izksUufr ugha nh tk;A 6½ tks izosf’kdk ijh{kkRrhZ.k gS vkSj ftuds ikl izkoSf/kd izdk.k i= ugha gS mUgsa duh; vfHk;ark ds in ij izksUufr nsus ds fy; ,d izkoSf/kd ijh{kk esa cSBuk gksxk ftl ijh{kk dk lapkyu v/kh{k.k vfHk;ark dks lfefr }kjk fd;k tk;xk rFkk bl lfefr dk xBu foHkkxh; vfHk;ark izeq[k eq[; vfHk;ark djsxsaA 7½ izdk.k i= vkSj pfj= iqLr vk;qfDr;ksa dh tkap mi;qZDr rhu v/kh{k.k vfHk;Urkvksa dh xfBr lfefr djsxhA vr% ljdkj us fu.kZ; fy;k gS fd jkT; esa lHkh dk;Z foHkkxksa esa dk;Zjr voj duh; vfHk;Urkvksa dks ftUgksaus fu;fer vFkok dk;ZHkkfjrin ij 10 o”kksZ dh lsok iwjh dj yh gS mi;qZDr ‘krksZ dks iwjk djus ij vfoyEc duh; vfHk;Urk ds in ij izksUufr ns nh tk;A voj vfHk;Urkvksa dks duh; vfHk;arkvksa ds in ij izksUufr ds fy;s og izfdz;k vkns’k fuxZr frfFk izHkkodkjh gksxhA vkns’k bl ladYi dks lHkh ds tkudkjh esa fn;s fcgkj esa izdkf’kr fd;k tk;A Kki la[;k & 24612] fnukad 13&12&76 izfrfyfi v/kh{kd xqytkjckx iszl dks fcgkj xtV ds vxys vad esa izdkf’kr djus ds vxzlkfjrA gŒ @& vLi”V ljdkj ds mi lfpo fcgkj yksŒ fuŒ foŒ fcgkj] iVukA 3. The decision which is recorded in the notification of 13.12.1976 had been taken at the highest level and as a policy, at a meeting, which was chaired by Chief Minster. It was also taken during the year after which there was no recruitment in this cadre relating to the surveyors. This aspect is borne out by a subsequent circular dated 1 September 1983/3 September, 1983. Again, the deliberations were chaired by Chief Minister, Bihar. This circular is on record of C.W.J.C. No. 6015 of 1996 (Ram Sewak Singh and ors. vrs the State of Bihar and ors) out of which the present Letters Patent Appeals arise. The 1983 circular in fact explains the situation and the intention of the Government to act on the earlier decision that is to say one taken on 13 December, 1976. vrs the State of Bihar and ors) out of which the present Letters Patent Appeals arise. The 1983 circular in fact explains the situation and the intention of the Government to act on the earlier decision that is to say one taken on 13 December, 1976. Thus, the circular of 1 September, 1983/3 September, 1983 (Annexure-20 of C.W.J.C. No.6015/96 is also reproduced below : <span class="Hfont">,usDlpj & 20 ea=h] flapkbZ] flapkbZ foHkkx esa losZ;j ds dqN in gSaA blesa dqN fu;fer gS vkSj deZpkjh losZ;j ds in ij vkus ds ckn budks izksUufr ds fy, dksbZ Hkh laoxZ ugha gSA vr,o yksdfuekZ.k foHkkx us igys gh fu.kZ; ys j[kk gS fd bUgsa duh; vfHk;ark ds laoxZ esa izksUufr nh tk ldrh gSA ml izksUufr ds fy;s dqN ‘krsZ gSA ;Fkk mUgksaus 10 lky dh ukSdjh iwjh dj yh gSA izosf’kdk ifj{kk mrhZ.k gks ,oa vkbZ-Vh-vkbZ-fMIyksek j[krs gksA flapkbZ foHkkx esa bl vk/kkj ij dksbZ Hkh izksUufr ugha nh x;hA vr,oa ;s losZ;j blds ekax djrs vk jgs gSaA 2½ bl fo”k; ij dbZ lky ls fopkj gks jgk gS] tSlk fd iwŒ 81@VŒ ls irk pysxkA 3½ losZ;j ds cgkyh 1976 ls can gSA vr,oa tks yksx rRdky ukSdjh esa gS ;k rks fu;fer :Ik ls dk;ZHkkfjr LFkkiuk es mUgha dh izksUufr dk iz’u fopkjkf/ku gSA bl fo”k; in iwŒ 87&89@ fVŒ dh fVIi.kh fLFkfr dks iw.kZ :i ls Li”V djrh gSA eSa muls lger gwWA 4½ vr,oa fuEufyf[kr izLrko vuqeksfnr fd;k tk ldrk gS%& ¼d½ v/kh{k.k vfHk;arkvks ds lfefr us ftu 36 lcsZ;j dks izksUufr nsus dh vuq’kalk dh gS] mUgsa izksUufr nh tk;A blds fy, 10 o”kksZ ds lsokk vof/k gh j[kk tk; tSlk yksd fuekZ.k foHkkx esa gSA ¼[k½ dk;ZHkkfjr LFkkiuk dsa dk;Zjr lcsZ;j dks bl izdkj fjDr in ij fu;fer LFkkiuk es yk;k tk;] mlds ckn izksUufr ds fl}kUr ij fopkj fd;k tk;A ¼x½ vkxs tc Hkh fu;ferdj.k ,oa izksUufr dk iz’u gks mlds fy;s iqu% ,d lfefr vf/k{k.k vfHk;arkvksa dh cukbZ tk; ij mlds v/;{k eq[; vfHk;ark jgsxsaA bl lfefr dk euksu;u le;≤ ij flapkbZ vk;qDr dj ldrs gSA ¼?k½ pwWfd 1976 ls lcsZ;j dh cgkyh can gS] vr,o izksUufr ds dksVk ds fo”k; esa rRdky fdlh fu.kZ; dh vo’;drk ugha gSA duh; vfHk;arkvksa dk lacxZ djhc nl gtkj dk gS] vkSj mldsa brus FkksM+s yksxks dh izksUufr nsus ls fdlh leL;k dk mRiUu gksus dh laHkkouk,sa Hkh gSA ¼M+½ ea=h th ds vuqeksnu ds i’pkr~ rnuqlkj dkjZokbZ dh tk;sxhA gŒ@& deyk izlkn 1-9-83 vk;qDr flapkbZ gŒ@& pUnz’ks[kj flag 3-9-83 eq[;ea=h izHkkjh flapkbZ ea=h fcgkj] iVuk 1 4. The subsequent decision also at a meeting chaired by the Chief Minister places one aspect on record that the surveyors who had been recruited for the, purposes of implementation of the five year plans no recruitment was made after 1976. This in itself shows that this cadre of surveyor recruited for special purposes and in an exigency was a dying cadre. Those who had been recruited would retire but there would be no more recruitment after 1976. The numbers in this cadre would not increase, but decrease as retirements take place. 5. Reading the notification of 13 December, 1976 and the minutes of the meeting chaired by the Chief Minister on 3 December, 1983 the essential features (leaving the minor details out) are: (a) Surveyors were recruited for the implementation of five years plan with full consciousness that they may not possess an engineering degree or a diploma degree from a recognised institution. (b) Upon their discharing of ten years of continuous service, provided the record was not adverse, they would be given an automatic promotion on the post of a Junior Engineer. (c) Regard being had to the circumstances that the post of a junior engineer subsequently was to be filled by fresh appointees, recruitment from the cadres of surveyors was stopped effective 1976. (d) Fresh appointees would be Junior Engineers with qualifications and the post would be gazetted. An exception was made that should the surveyors discharge ten years of satisfactory service, they will also receive rank of junior engineers. 6. With a cadre whose personnel diminishes it is too petty a matter to go into the question whether on promotion they will be treated as gazetted engineers or not. Once the Government decided that may have the promotion upon putting in ten years of service, the length of service was the qualifying factor. Once they were made junior engineers it hardly matters whether the posts were gazetted or not and this unnecessary friction to create two classes specially a cadre whose numbers are diminishing should not be treated arbitrarily. The equalising factor was the length of service. The essential aspect is not to be forgotten that they had been recruited for the purpose of implementing the first five years plan with full consciousness that they may not possess essential qualifications. The equalising factor was the length of service. The essential aspect is not to be forgotten that they had been recruited for the purpose of implementing the first five years plan with full consciousness that they may not possess essential qualifications. Sufficient engineers were not available in those days, otherwise the occasion to recruit the surveyors would not have arisen. 7. In the circumstances, the decision which is impugned has not taken the totality of the factors, the circumstances and the history of the recruitment of the surveyors. The decision dated 13.12.1976 (Annexure-14 of C.W.J.C. No. 6959 of 1996) is in error and is, thus, set aside. 8. Any promotion denied to this cadre of survayors needs to be restored and continued. 9. The reliefs are to be granted to the petitioners-appellants within one month of a certified copy of this judgment being placed before the Secretary, Water Resources Department, Government of Bihar; a writ of mandamus issues accordingly. 10. The appeals succeed.