As instances of how the impugned provisions in the channel of promotion are harmful to the Road side Station Masters, the petitioners state: that while the petitioner No. 2 even after completing 32 years of service has remained in the grade of Rs. 100 185 as Station Master, Guards of equal status and standing have reached gazetted rank within the same period of service; that whereas the petitioner No, 3 has come by promotion to the grade of Rs. 150225 after putting in 21 years of service, Guards of his standing have risen to the grade of Rs. 360 500 by virtue of the impugned channel of promotion and several of his juniors who entered the Railway service long after him as Guards have superseded him and are working in the grade of Rs. 360 500; that while the 314 petitioner No. 4 having entered into service as Telegraph Candidate and having passed all the requisite examinations prescribed for the higher grade of Station Master within a period of 2 1/2 years after putting in 6 1/2 years of service is still in the grade of Rs. 80 170, Guards of his length of service and departmental qualification are entitled for promotion as an Assistant Station Master in the grade of Rs. 150 225 within about the same length of service.