JUDGMENT :

Sanjay Kishan Kaul, J.

1. The sole question, which arises for consideration in these appeals is whether the services rendered by the appellants/Judicial Officers as Fast Track court Judges is liable to be counted for their pensionary and other benefits, the appellants having joined the regular judicial service thereafter.

2. The question of law arising as aforesaid, it is not necessary to delve into the facts of each case. Thus, only the facts which are relevant for the determination of this question are being set out. The Jharkhand State was carved out from the State of Bihar under the Bihar Reorganisation Act, 2000 on 25.11.2000. Soon thereafter the Jharkhand High Court, respondent No.2, issued an advertisement on 23.5.2001 to fill up the vacancies for the post of Additional District Judges in the Jharkhand Superior Judicial Service. The appellants also took part in the recruitment process and post conduct of examination and interview, a select list was prepared of 27 candidates, who were eligible for appointment to the Superior Judicial Service. None of the appellants, however, figured in the final select list. A parallel development was the allocation by the 11th Financ