This list, it was stated in a letter dated January 31, 1978/February 24, 1978 addressed by a Joint Secretary of the State Government to the Inspector General of Police, Bihar, Patna, had been "prepared on the basis of the date of appointment, officiating or permanent, whichever is earlier, in the Bihar Police in the light of Finance Department Resolution No. 3521 dated 11 4 77 and judgment of the High Court in C.W.J.C. No. 2011/76. " In the context of the present controversy two important facts which have to be kept in mind are: (i) the appellants were promoted to officiate as Deputy Superintendents of Police in the year 1965 (other promotees like the appellants had also been officiating as Deputy Superintendents of Police from different dates between 1948 and 1970) and (ii) by Government order dated December 30, 1977 fifty four temporary posts of Deputy Superintendent of Police created between 1948 and 1970 were made permanent from the dates these posts were created.