JUDGMENT

S.B. Sinha, J.—Leave granted in the S.L.Ps.

2. The State of Andhra Pradesh notified 301 vacancies by a notification bearing No. 21 of 2003 dated 21.11.2003 in respect of the following six categories of Group 1 services:

(i)Deputy Collectors in A.P. Civil Service (Executive Branch)

(ii)Commercial Tax officers in A.P. Commercial Tax Service

(iii)Deputy Superintendent of Police (Category-2) in A.P. Police Service

(iv)Regional Transport Officers in the A.P. Transport Service

(v)Assistant Prohibition and Excise Superintendents in A.P. Excise Service

(vi)Mandal Parishad Development Officer in A.P. Panchayat Raj Rural Development Service.

3. For filling up of the vacancies so notified, the Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission (for short "the Commission") issued a notification on or about 21.11.2003 inviting applications from candidates eligible therefor. The salient features of the recruitment process are as under:

(i)Recruitment was to be made to vacancies notified only.

(ii)Recruitment was to be processed as per the notification and GOMs No. 570 dated 31.12.1997 and instructions issued by the State from time to time.

(iii)The candidates were to possess the essential qualifications spe