Judgment

G.B. Pattanaik, J.-These eight appeals are directed against the order of the Central Administrative Tribunal, Hyderabad Bench dated 26.8.1994, and involve common questions of law. By the impugned order the Tribunal has quashed the two Noti­fications dated 15.12.1993 and 16.12.1993 of the Government of India, Ministry of Personnel inter alia on the ground that the Notifications in question amending the Indian Administrative Service (Fixation of Cadre Strength) Regulations (hereinafter referred to as ‘Regulations’) contravenes Rule 9 of the Indian Administrative Service (Recruitment) Rules, 1954, (hereinafter referred to as the ‘Recruitment Rules). The appellants in all these appeals are the promotees to the cadre of Indian Administrative Service who had been recruited by way of direct recruitment to the post of Deputy Collectors in the State Service. Respondents Nos. 1 to 4 in Civil Appeal No. 6525 of 1994 are the direct recruits to the Indian Administrative Service. These respondents - direct recruit IAS officers had filed OA No. 118 of 1994, challenging the Notifications of the Government of India dated 15.12.1993 and 16.12.1993, as already stat­ed. Another direc