JUDGMENT

BHARUCHA, J.:- Special leave granted.

2. These civil appeals are directed against the orders of various Division Benches of the High Court of Punjab and Haryana, all of which found no ground to interfere with the judgment of a learned single Judge whereby the writ petitions filed, inter alia, by the present appellants were dismissed. In substance, therefore, it is the judgment and order of the learned single Judge which is under challenge.

3. The Haryana Subordinate Services Selection Board (now called "the Board") issued an advertisement inviting applications for the appointment of 40 Assistant sub-Inspectors of Police in the State of Haryana. Intending candidates were informed that they would have to appear in two written examinations of 100 marks each and, if they obtained 50% or more marks (40% or more for Scheduled Caste and Backward Class Candidates), would be called for a physical test and an interview. They were also informed that successful candidates would have to qualify in three out of four tests, viz., two races and an high and a long jump. The advertisement specified 40 posts because at that point of time the State Government had made a requisition upon the Bo