In the instant Rule, Railway Board's letter being No. E(NG) III-78 RRI/1l3 dated 30th June, 1978 issued by the Deputy Director (Establishment), Railway Board and the Office Circular No. E 740/C/Resv/Com/Line (1) dated 21st June, 1978 issued by the Chief Personnel Officer, Eastern Railway for filling up the posts of Enquiry-cum-Reservation Clerks in the scale of Rs. 330-560/- by women and the Employment Notice being No. 1/78 (ER) for recruitment of lady Enquiry-cum-Reservation Clerks and the Railway Board's Circular No. E (NG) 111-76/CD/40 dated August 5, 1976 to the General Manager, All India Railways on the subject :'Revitalising the cadre of Enquiry-cum-Reservation Clerks" are under challenge.

2. The petitioners in the instant Rule are Railway employees and all of them are at present working as Reservation Clerks at different booking offices of the Eastern Railway in Calcutta namely at Fairlie Place Reservation Office, Howrah Station Reservation Office and Sealdah Station Reservation Office. The petitioners case is that by a letter dated 29th February, 1964, the Railway authorities laid down the procedure for appointment to the post of Enquiry-cum-Reservation Clerks as al