( 1 ) THESE are four petitions by four different persons seeking similar relief in almost identical circumstances.

( 2 ) EACH of the petitioners was employed by the Railways as a substitute . Three of (hem were taken on as safaiwales (cleaners) and one as a khalasi. They came to be so employed on different dates in the years 1971, 1972 and 1973. The exact dates are not material. All of them continued to work as substitutes for many years until, by notices dated 8th September 1978, their services were suddenly terminated. The notices were verbatim the same, except for the name of the employee to whom they were addressed. They read as follows :

in pursuance of Rule 149 of the Indian Railway Establishment Code Volume I, I hereby give notice to. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . s/o. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Substitute S andw Safai- wala under CFO-DLI that his services shall stand terminated with effect from the date of expiry of a period of one month from the date on which this notice is served on or, as the case may be tendered to, him. sd/- (Illegibie) Asstt. Mechanical Engineer-1 V D. S. Office, New Delhi. The petitioners maintain that this termination of