S. MURALIDHAR, J.

1. 55 Petitioners who applied pursuant to an Employment Notice issued by the Railway Board for the post of Constable (Water Carrier) etc. in the Railway Protection Force ("RPF") including the Railway Protection Special Force ("RPSF") in seven different categories including Water Carrier, Safaiwala, Washerman, Barber, Mali, Tailor and Cobbler have filed the present petition for directions to the Respondents to appoint them to the vacancies in the above posts.

2. The background facts are that Employment Notice No. 1/2013 dated 6th December, 2013 was issued by the Railway Board inviting applications for the aforementioned post of Constables. The number of vacancies to be filled up was 659. There were 406 vacancies in the post of Constable (Water Carrier), 117 for Constable (Safaiwala), 53 for Constable (Washerman), 61 for Constable (Barber), 7 for Constable (Mali), 9 for Constable (Tailor) and 6 for Constable (Cobbler). Subsequently, the above 659 vacancies were revised to 763 vacancies across the board for all categories.

3. The notes in the notice read a