Judgement

SHELAT, J.:- This appeal, by special leave, is directed against the judgment of the High Court of Andhra Pradesh in Writ Petition No.1915 of 1971. That was filed by the respondents herein, who were candidates for the posts of District Munsif in the Andhra Pradesh State Judicial Service which were to be filled in by direct recruitment as distinguished from recruitment by promotion.

2. The respondents are advocates enrolled by the High Court of Andhra Pradesh. In pursuance of an advertisement dated November 8, 1968 issued by the State Public Service Commission, they and certain others applied for the said posts for which at the time there were sixty vacancies. One of the qualifications required of such applicants was that they should be below the age of 32 years on July 1, 1961. The Commission was to hold the examination on the 7th and 8th May, 1969. The examination however, could not be held as the examinees staged a walk-out on the ground that the question paper in Civil Law was at variance with the "Information For Candidates" previously issued by the Commission. The Commission thereafter issued another notice dated July 5, 1969 for holding another examination on July 25,