JUDGMENT :

J. Chelameswar, J.

Aggrieved by the common judgment dated 08.08.2014 of the High Court of Kerala in O.P.(KAT) No.239 of 2014 and O.P.(KAT) No.112 of 2014, the unsuccessful petitioners therein preferred these two special leave petitions.

2. Leave granted.

3. The above-mentioned Original Petitions (writ petitions) were filed aggrieved by the order dated 20.02.2014 passed by the Kerala Administrative Tribunal (for short 'the Tribunal') by which the Tribunal disposed of the three original applications O.A. Nos. 2395/13, 2587/13 and 58/14.

4. The background facts of the instant litigation are as follows :

The Kerala Public Service Commission (for short 'the Service Commission') issued a notification dated 28.09.2007 inviting applications from the qualified candidates for appointment to the posts of Sub-Inspector (Trainee). The notification did not specify the number of posts sought to be filled up but mentioned that the posts are sought to be filled up from three sources. They are,

"(1) "Category No. 315/2007-Open market.

(2) Category No.316/2007-Graduate Ministerial Staff of Police and Vigilance Department, Fingerprint Experts, Fingerprint Searchers of the Finger Print Bureau.

(3) Ca