( 1 ) THE constitutional validity of Rule 3 (2) of the A. P. Medical Colleges (Admission into Post-graduate Medical Courses) Rules, 1997 ( for brevity the Rules ) insofar as the same does not consider the petitioners as "in service" candidates for the purpose of admission into Post Graduate Medical Courses and insofar as the same prescribes six years continuous regular service in specified Government service, is the subject -matter of these writ petitions.

( 2 ) IN most of writ petitions, the amendment issued to the Rules in G. O. Ms. No. 279, dated 9-7-2001, denying the benefit of reservation as "in service" candidates to these who had already acquired PG degree/diploma qualification prior to or after their entry into service, is challenged. In a couple of cases, G. O. Ms. No. 260, dated 10-7-1997, whereunder the Rules were made, as indicated hereinabove, is challenged. The grounds of challenge in both the groups of writ petitions are the same, and therefore, they are disposed of by this common judgment.

( 3 ) BACKGROUND OF THE FACTS : For the sake of convenience, we may state the necessary facts in WP No. 18260 of 2001, in which G. O. Ms. No. 279, dated 9-7-2001