WP(C) 2159/2007 BEFORE THE HON’BLE MR JUSTICE B.K. SHARMA Heard Mr. R.P. Sarmah, learned counsel for the petitioner as well as Ms. R. Chokraborty, learned Addl. Sr. Govt. appearing for the respondents and Mr. C . Baruah, learned counsel appearing for the APSC. By means of this writ petition, the petitioner has prayed for a directio n to the respondents to promote him to the post of Assistant Engineer from the d ate of acquiring the degree of B. Tech. The petitioner was first appointed as Ju nior Engineer under the Irrigation department in the year 1990. While he was in service he completed B. Tech course in the year 1996. According to the petitione r, as per the provision of the Rules applicable to the case, an incumbent acquir ing the degree qualification in Engineering is entitled to get promotion as Assi stant Engineer. It is the further case of the petitioner that his name was forwa rded to the APSC in 1998. However, there was delay in selection and eventually he was selected by the selection committee which was duly approved by the APSC. It was in the year of 2006, he was appointed as Assistant Engineer. From the above, what is seen that, if the contention of the petitioner is to be accepted, he will have to be granted promotion to the post of Assistant Engineer w.e.f. 1996. Apart from the delay in making such a prayer, the persons who are likely to be affected are also not party respondents. Further, merely because the petitioner had obtained the degree qualifica tion in 1996, it cannot be said that he is automatically entitled to get promoti on in the said year while admittedly he was selected by the APSC much later. Mer e eligibility does not confer any right to get promotion. In view of the above, I do not find any merit in the writ petition and a ccordingly, it is dismissed.