JUDGMENT :

S. Ratnavel Pandian, J. - The above batch of Civil Appeals in which common questions of law arise, is preferred, by special leave under Article 136 of the Constitution of India against the judgments dated 20-8-1990, 4-10-1990 and 5-10-1990 of the Central Administrative Tribunal, Principal Bench, New Delhi (hereinafter referred to as Tribunal) rendered in various affiliated groups of original applications (O.As) upholding the validity of the second proviso to Rule 4 of the Civil Services Examination Rules (hereinafter referred to 'as 'C.S.E. Rules) introduced by Notification Number 13016/4/86-AIS(1) dated 13-12-1986 (Published in the Gazette of India Extraordinary, Part I Section I). Be it noted that similar notification has been/is being issued each year for the general information of the candidates setting down the terms and conditions, eligibility etc. to sit for the Civil Service Examination of the concerned year.

2. While a substantial number of O.As filed before the Tribunal at Delhi were pending, a similar number of analogous O.As filed before the Benches of Administrative Tribunals at Patna, Allahabad, Chandigarh, Jabalpur, Hyderabad, Jodhpur and Eranakulam were tra