Heard Shri Joy Mathew, learned counsel for the applicant and Ms.Prachi Upadhyay, learned counsel for the official respondents for some time.

      Ms. Prachi Upadhyay, learned counsel for the official respondents points out that the applicant's claim for promotion to the grade of Senior Tax Assistant is on the strength of the promotion granted to the respondent Nos.4 & 5, who are juniors to the applicant. She submits that he is not entitled to claim for promotion on the ground that as on 01-01-2014, his probation was not declared, which is one of the essential criteria for consideration by the DPC. 

  Per contra; Shri Joy Mathew, learned counsel for the applicant draws our attention to the seniority list of Tax Assistant of various zone as on 01-01-2014 vide Annexure A-2 (page 20 of the paperbook) and points out that the official at Sl. No.252 who came to the Gujarat Circle subsequent to 01-01-2014 and was granted promotion.  He argues that the same yardstick shall be adopted in the case of the applicant. 

     This point is required to be clarified by Ms.Prachi Upadhyay by filing reply.

       Call on 21-6-2017.