A.K.Ganguly, J.

1. These batch of writ petitions were heard together as common questions are involved in all these cases.

2. The basic grievance of the petitioners in these batch of cases is over fixation of salary to them without dearness allowance and the contention of the petitioners in all these cases is that such grant of salary to them is violative of the provisions contained in Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution of India.

3. The petitioners are working as Managers in Primary Agricultural Co-operative Society (hereinafter called the said PACS). The contention of the petitioners is that such appointments were made pursuant to letters of appointment issued under the signature of the Member Secretary District Co-operative Societies.

4. The petitioners have pleaded that in the year 1974 the Reserve Bank of India (hereinafter called the R.B.I.) at the request of the then Chief Minister of Bihar sent a study team to submit a report and recommendation on agricultural credit institution and to find out why the growth of Co-operative Agricultural Credit Institutions in the State of Bihar has been impeded. It is further pleaded that after a comprehensive study of the proble