JUDGMENT

A. S. ANAND, J.:- Shorn of details the circumstances giving rise to the filing of these petitions seeking certain directions and initiation of contempt proceedings against the respondents are as follows:

The petitioners were at the relevant time working as primary school teachers in the State of Bihar. Services of some of the teachers were terminated. The orders of termination were questioned before the High Court of Patna and a Division Bench of that Court vide judgment dated 11-8-1989 accepted the position that the services of the teachers had been terminated on account of improper and illegal recruitment by the State. The High (court was, however, of the opinion that the petitioners were not in any way responsible for the improper recruitment. The Division Bench gave a direction to the State to screen appropriately the cases of the petitioners and to recruit those who satisfy the requirements. The Division Bench noticed as follows:

"On the facts of this case, we observe that persons who are qualified for appointments deserve a consideration and appointment, accordingly on such posts for which they are qualified in preference to other candidates who may be qualified. We, ac