N. Kumar, J.

The petitioners herein have preferred these writ petitions challenging the order passed by the Karnataka Administrative Tribunal quashing condition No.2 imposed in the order of appointment issued to the respondents stating that they are juniors to the 1998 batch recruitees and directing that the respondents will be treated as seniors to the 1998 batch recruitees.

2. The petitioners were selected as Group-A Officers (Assistant Commissioners), whereas in the other writ petitions, the petitioners were selected as Group-B Officers (Tahsildars). The Government of Karnataka by their letters dated 03.11.1997 and 04.02.1998 requested the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) to make recruitment for 103 Group ‘A’ posts and 300 Group ‘B’ posts in accordance with the Karnataka Recruitment of Gazetted Probationers (Appointment made by Competitive Examination) Rules, 1997 (hereinafter referred to as `the Rules’). On receipt of such request the KPSC advertised the vacancies vide notification dated 09.03.1998 inviting applications from eligible candidates. The KPSC after completing the selection process, published a provisional select list of 403 candidates on 28.09.2