ORDER :

1. The petitioners in all these writ petitions who are appointed as District Government Pleaders/Additional Government Pleaders (hereinafter referred to as ‘Pleaders’ short) have called in question their orders of removal and appointment of private respondents in their place.

2. Brief facts leading to the filing of the present petitions, as borne out from the pleadings, are as follows:-

The petitioners are all practicing Advocates in Hassan District. The State Government directed the 3rd respondent/Deputy Commissioner, Hassan to appoint Pleaders to various Courts in Hassan District. In furtherance of the said directive, the 3rd respondent invited applications for appointment as Pleaders as per Rule 26 of the Karnataka Law Officers (Appointment and Conditions of Service) Rules, 1977 (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Rules’ for short). The petitioners finding themselves eligible and qualified for consideration for appointment to the said posts submitted their applications. On receipt of those applications the 3rd respondent/Deputy Commissioner forwarded the same to the Dist