Judgment

MUDHOLKAR, J. : (On behalf of Gajendragadkar, Wanchoo, Rajagopala Ayyangar JJ. and himself): These four appeals arise out of four writ petitions preferred by four persons under Art. 226 of the Constitution challenging a notification made by the Government of Punjab on October 31, 1957 "de-confirming the petitioners from permanent posts of Tahsildars and according to them the rank of officiating Tahsildars. The petitions were heard together and were disposed of by a common judgment by Mehr Singh J. Appeals preferred against his judgment were dismissed summarily by a Division Bench of the Punjab High Court. The State of Punjab has come up before us by special leave against the decisions in all the four writ petitions and we have heard the appeals preferred by it together. This judgment will govern all these appeals.

2. The respondents were officiating Tahsildars in the erstwhile State of Pepsu. By notification No. RD/Est. 74 dated October 23, 1956 made by the Financial Commissioner, seven officiating Tahsildars, including the four respondents before us, were confirmed as Tahsildars with immediate effect. No posts were, however, available at that time in which the respondents