Shambhu Prasad Singh, J.

1. Questions arising for decision in these four applications under Articles 228 and 227 of the Constitution of India being common, they have been heard together and are being disposed of by this order. The petitioners of all these applications have prayed for issuance of an appropriate writ quashing the seniority lists (Annexure 6 to each of these applications) prepared by the Bokaro Steel Limited whose Managing Director is respondent No. 1 to these applications.

2. The Bokaro Steel Limited and the Hindustan Steel Limited, whose Chairman is respondent No. 2 to these applications are two public sector undertakings of the Government of India which owns 100 per cent shares thereof. The petitioners of these applications were originally appointed under the Hindustan Steel Limited on various dates, mentioned against their names in Annexures 6, and posted at Bhilai, Rourkela, Durgapur and other places. In the years 1967-68 they joined under the Bpkaro Steel Limited. According to them, they were transferred from one concern to another, the employer being the same, i.e., the Union of India, and these were not cases of fresh appointments. They were to get all