N. Kumar, J.—In all these Writ Petitions the interpretation to be placed to the proviso added to column No. 4 in the Schedule to the Karnataka State Police Services including Ministerial Services (Recruitment) Rules, 1994 which was inserted by the Karnataka State Police Services including Ministerial Services (Recruitment) (Amendment) Rules, 2000 is involved. Therefore, they are taken up for consideration together and disposed of by this order. The petitioners in all these Writ Petitions joined the services of the State as Sub-Inspector of Police on 20.10.1975 and in the year 1979. Subsequently, they were promoted as Inspector of Police in the year 1983-84 and 1989. By an order dated 21.10.1995, these petitioners were placed in independent charge as Deputy Superintendent of Police on a temporary basis under Rule 32 of the Karnataka Civil Services Rules, 1957 (hereinafter for short referred to as the 'KCSRs'). It was issued by the Director General of Police. Similarly, by yet another order dated 16.6.1997 some of the petitioners were placed in independent charge as Deputy Superintendent of Police. By an order dated 22.7.1998 passed under sub-rule (3) of Rule 2 of the Karnataka