Birendra Prasad Sinha, J.-All these writ petitions were heard together and are being disposed of by a common JUDGMENT :.

2. The main questions which have come up 'for consideration in these writ petitions are these :

(i) Whether the petitioners can claim to have been validly appointed?

(ii) If the first question is answered in the negative whether these writ applications can be allowed on the ground of alleged violation of the principles of natural justice? And

(iii) Whether in such an event they can still claim the arrear of salary for the period they claimed to have worked?

3. In ORDER :to answer these questions it may pe relevant to state some of the facts.

4. The petitioners claim to have been appointed under the ORDER :s passed by three District Superintendent of Education, namely, Shri Bhola. Ram, Shri Hari Narain Thakur and Shri Hari Narain Jha.

C. W. J. C. No. 119 of 1985.

5. This writ petition has been filed on behalf of 58 persons. The letters of appointment were issued by Shri Bhola Ram, District Superintendent of Education, Sahepganj. It is claimed that Government of Bihar had sanctioned 2300 posts of assistant teachers vide letter no. 50 dated 20,2.1981 to the Distri