JUDGMENT

R.C. Lahoti, J.-This common judgment shall govern the disposal of C.A. No. 6750/1999, C.A. No. 6751/1999, C.A. No. 6752/1999, C.A. No. 6752/1999 & C.W.P. No. 356/1999 filed in this Court.

2. Vide advertisement dated 12.1.1996, the Departmental Selection Committee (Teaching), Education Department, Punjab invited applications for appointment of 3025 teachers. The relevant part of the notification is extracted and reproduced hereunder :-

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1. Applications on prescribed form given below are invited for various categories of teachers. Applications must be reached on or berfore dated 15.2.1996.

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Sr.No. 1. Masters/Mistresses (S.S. &      Allied)

Total number of posts : 3025

Pay Scale : 1640-2925

Subject Subject Number Code of posts

(i) Social Studies 0201 3000

 (ii) Fine Arts 0203 10

 (iii) Music 0204 10

 (iv) Home Science 0205 05

Total 3025

Educational Qualification :

(i) For Social Studies Masters/Mistresses : B.A./B. Ed. with the combination of two subjects o