ANIRUDDHA BOSE, J.:-

This batch of writ petitions are being taken up for hearing together as similar questions of law as well as factual issues are involved in all these proceedings. The petitioners are all medical officers under the service of the Government of West Bengal (the State Government). They were permitted to appear in the entrance examination for the post-graduate medical degree and diploma courses as Government sponsored candidates from in-service category for the 2012 session. All the petitioners are guided by the West Bengal Medical Education Service, the West Bengal Health Service and the West Bengal Public Health-cum-Administrative Service (placement on Trainee reserves) Rules, 2008 (the 2008 Rules) for the purpose of participating in the said courses. For admission in post-graduate medical degree and diploma courses, I have been apprised by the learned counsel appearing for the petitioners that 50 per cent of the total seats are offered to candidates who participate in All India Entrance Examination, and 50 per cent of the candidates are admitted at the State level, through the West Bengal Post-Graduate Medical Admission Test (WBPGMAT). In respect of t