R.G. AVACHAT, J.

Rule, made returnable forthwith. With the consent of the learned counsel for the parties and the learned A.G.P., heard finally.

2. These petitions have been filed for quashment of the orders dated 24th February, 2015 and 24th November, 2015, passed by the Ombudsmen and the Appellate Authority, respectively, under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005 (for short, “MNREGA”) and the Rules framed thereunder.

3. Heard learned counsel for the petitioners, respondent No.3 – Zilla Parishad, respondent Nos.6 to 8 and the learned Assistant Government Pleader.

FACTS :

4. Most of the petitioners are public servants (petitioners in Writ Petition Nos. 12166/2015, 11956/2015, 11957/2015, 12092/2015, 12224/2015, 12080/2015, 472/2016 and 1754/2016). At the relevant time, they were serving with the Revenue Department and Zilla Parishad, at Pathardi in the district of Ahmednagar. Other petitioners claim to be unemployed agriculturists.

Respondent Nos.6 to 8 herein had filed the Public Interest Litigation (“PIL”, for short) No.68 of 2014 before this Court seeking directions to respondent Nos.1 to 3 to take appropriate action against erring officials, inc