MARKANDEY KATJU, J.

( 1 ) THIS appeal has been filed against the impugned judgment of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court dated 26. 5. 1999 in LPA (SW) No. 222/99.

( 2 ) HEARD learned Counsel for the parties and perused the record. The facts of the case are that a Select List dated 28. 3. 1991 was prepared for induction of State Forest Service officials of Jammu and Kashmir into the Indian Forest Service (hereinafter refereed to as 'ifs' ). The appellant's name figured in the Select List at serial number 26. The total number of vacancies were 35, and hence ordinarily the appellant should have been selected and appointed. However, the Select List was challenged in a batch of writ petitions which were disposed of by a Division Bench of the High Court dated 12. 3. 1993. The operative portion of that order states: this order will dispose of writ petitions Nos. 400/90, 80, 249, 618, 933, 619, 1395 of 1991, 264, 208, 287 and 266 of 1992, because they raise a common question of law and fact. Learned Counsel for the respondent-State has placed on record a copy of the communication dated 11. 3. 1993 wherein it has been stated: in case the petitioners withdraw the writ petitions, Government s