-1- IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY ORDINARY ORIGINAL CIVIL JURISDICTION WRIT PETITION NO. 2160 OF 2008 ALONG WITH WRIT PETITION (LODGING) NO. 2360 OF 2008 AND WRIT PETITION (LODGING) NO. 2444 OF 2008 WRIT PETITION NO. 2160 OF 2008 Sanjay Vasant Parelkar and others ).. Petitioners Versus Union of India and others ).. Respondents ALONG WITH WRIT PETITION (LODGING) NO. 2360 OF 2008 Union of India and others ).. Petitioners Versus M N Dhar and others ).. Respondents AND WRIT PETITION (LODGING) NO. 2444 OF 2008 Ravindra Singh Baati and others ).. Petitioners Versus Union of India and others ).. Respondents Mr J P Cama a/w Mr R G Walia for the Petitioners in Writ Petition No.2160 of 2008 and Writ Petition (L) No. 2444 of 2008. Mr R C Master for Respondent No.1. Mr C U Singh a/w Mr S V Marne for Respondent Nos.4 to 9. Mr M I Sethna a/w Mr J B Mishra for the Petitioners in Writ Petition (L) No. 2360 of 2008. CORAM : SWATANTER KUMAR, C.J. & S. A. BOBDE, J. DATED : 15TH DECEMBER 2008 -2- P.C. Vide letter dated 3rd June 2008, Ministry of Finance, Government of India, issued certain directions with regard to drawl of seniority list of officers in the grade of Customs Appraiser. Operation of this letter came to be stayed by an ex-parte order passed by the Central Administrative Tribunal, Bombay Bench, Mumbai. Certain other directions were passed by the Central Administrative Tribunal after hearing the parties vide its order dated 11th September 2008. Exception is taken by the Petitioners to these two orders. Various contentions have been raised in regard to various facets of fixation of seniority as well as of posting, etc. We do not propose to go into the merit or otherwise of the contentions raised before us keeping in view the course of action that we propose to adopt and issue directions in relation to these cases. 2. There is no doubt that certain difficulties are bound to result from the orders passed by the Central Administrative Tribunal as well as the letter dated 3rd June 2008 issued by the Government of India. It is not in dispute before us that the Application as well as the main Original Application No. 360 of 2008 is listed for final hearing before the Tribunal on 9th January 2009. It will be appropriate to issue a direction at this -3- stage that the matter may be heard finally by the Tribunal on that day and we do hope, keeping in view the concern shown by the learned Counsel appearing for the parties and without commenting in any manner upon as to who is responsible for delaying the proceedings, that the matter is heard on that date and decided expeditiously. For any reason whatsoever if the Tribunal is not able to hear the matter finally and close it for orders, we would definitely expect that the Tribunal would hear the application finally and pass interim orders relating to the ex-parte order passed on 10th July 2008 as well as the directions contained in the order dated 11th September 2008. We make it clear that none of the parties would be entitled to pray for adjournment before the Central Administrative Tribunal on that date. We would expect neither of the parties to these Petitions to precipitate the issues till that date. 3. Writ Petitions disposed of accordingly. No order as to costs. CHIEF JUSTICE S. A. BOBDE, J.