JUDGMENT

DIPANKAR DATTA, J.

THE APPEALS

1. These two appeals, by special leave, at the instance of the common appellant — State of Odisha¹ [State] — are directed against the common judgment and order dated 7th November, 2025² [impugned order] passed by a Division Bench of the High Court of Orissa³ [High Court], dismissing two intra-court appeals⁴ [W.A. No.658 of 2023 and W.A. No.744 of 2023] that the State had carried from final orders dated 24th February, 2023 and 28th February, 2023 of a Single Judge allowing the writ petitions⁵ [W.P.(C) No.35645 of 2021 and W.P.(C) No.41042 of 2021] of the two respondents before this Court, viz. Sreepati Ranjan Dash⁶ [Dash] and Aditya Bhanjan Sahoo⁷[Sahoo], finding no infirmity therein.

FACTUAL MATRIX

2. The basic facts giving rise to the impugned orders, though uncontested, have a history of their own. To the extent germane for disposal of the present appeals, the same are adverted to briefly hereafter.

a. On 17th November 1981, the Commerce & Transport (Transport) Department, Government of Odisha issued an executive instruction (bearing No.17315) ⁸[Executive Instructions] for recruitment to/filling up 4 posts of Assistant Regional Transport Office