WP(C) 2426/2010 BEFORE THE HON’BLE MR JUSTICE IA ANSARI By this common order, this Court proposes to dispose of both these writ petitions, which have been made under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, seeking issuance of appropriate directions. Heard Mr. S Saikia, learned counsel for the petitioner, in WP(C) No. 2304/2010, and Mr. DA Kaiyum, learned counsel for the petitioner, in WP(C) No. 2426/2010. H eard also Mr. UK Nair, learned counsel, appearing on behalf of the respondents. The controversy, in these two writ petitions, centers round the appoint of Mondal in the amalgamated establishment of the Settlement Officers of the dis tricts of Dhubri and Kokrajhar. Both the petitioners had been working as Additio nal Mandals under the establishment of the Settlement Officer, Dhubri. Whereas t he petitioner, in WP(C) No. 2304/2010, was, in order of seniority, second senior most Additional Mandal in the establishment of the Settlement Officer, Dhubri, the petitioner, in WP(C) No. 2426/2010, was at Sl. No. 4 of the said establishme nt. On amalgamation of the establishments of the Settlement Officers of Kokrajha r and Dhubri districts, a combined seniority list of the Additional Mandals has been prepared, wherein the petitioner, in WP(C) No. 2304/2010, appears at Sl. No . 2, whereas the petitioner, in WP(C) No. 2426/2010, figures at Sl. No. 5. In th e amalgamated establishment aforementioned, thus, none of the two petitioners ca n be regarded as senior most Additional Mandal. What is, now, necessary to note is that according to the Government letter, date d 01-06-2009 (Annexure G to the WP(C) No. 2426/2010), the Additional Mandals are required to be absorbed in order of seniority in the vacant post of Mandal, in the establishment of the Deputy Commissioners of the respective districts, where the settlement operations are still in progress, subject, of course, to the app roval of the Finance (SIU) Department and other relevant policies of the Governm ent. The he petitioner’s rest their cases on the said letter, dated 01-06-2009. Considering the fact that since the establishments of the Settlement Officers of the districts of Dhubri and Kokrajhar have been amalgamated together, it is the seniority, in the combined list of the said two establishments, which would hol d the field and govern the appointments of Additional Mandals to the posts of Ma ndal in the said amalgamated establishment. Situated thus, it becomes clear that the petitioners can be appointed as and when their turn, according to combined seniority list aforementioned, comes for being appointed as Mandals. Considering, therefore, the matter in its entirety and in the interest o f justice, this writ petition is disposed of with direction to the respondents t o ensure that the appointment to the post of Mandal is made in order of seniorit y in terms of the said combined list so long the amalgamated establishment of th e Settlement Officers of the said two districts is maintained. With the above observations and directions, these writ petition are disposed of. No order as to costs. The instructions produced by Mr. UK Nair, learned Standing Counsel, DLR, shall b e maintained with the record of these two cases. The interim directions, passed earlier in these cases, shall accordingly stand m odified.