JUDGMENT :

M. S. SONAK, J.

1. Heard the learned counsel for the parties.

2. The learned counsel for the parties state that the issue involved in all these petitions is one and the same. Accordingly, they submit that these petitions may be disposed of by a common judgment and order, by treating the Writ Petition No.222 of 2019 as the lead matter.

3. In all these petitions, the Petitioners seek an appropriate writ, order and directions to the Respondents to appoint the Petitioners to the post of Police Sub- Inspector (PSI) in pursuance of selection process commenced vide advertisement No.1/2016 published on 7th July, 2016.

4. The Superintendent of Police (HQ), Panaji, issued advertisement No.1/2016, inviting inter alia applications for direct recruitment to 34 posts of PSIs. The advertisement indicated that out of these 34 posts, 17 were unreserved posts, 4 reserved for Scheduled Tribes, 9 reserved for Other Backward Class, 2 reserved for ExServiceman and 2 reserved for Sportspersons.

5. In pursuance of the advertisement, several candidates, including the Petitioners applied for appointment to the posts of PSIs. Between the period 25.10.2016 and 01.11.2016, prescribed tests in relation to