ORDER :

NIKHIL S. KARIEL, J.

1. Heard learned Advocate Ms. Bhargavi G. Thakar for the petitioners in both the matters, learned Advocate Mr. Kalpesh N. Shastri for the respondent No. 2 in Special Civil Application No. 8508 of 2025 and learned AGP Mr. Aditya Pathak for the respondent State in both the matters.

2. Issue Rule. Learned Advocates for the respective respondents waive service of Rule.

3. Since a common issue has been raised in both these writ petitions, with the consent of the parties, the present petitions are taken up for final hearing together.

4. At the outset, learned advocate for the petitioners would submit that the issue raised in these petitions is covered by a decision of this Court in Special Civil Application No.10738 of 2020 and allied matters dated 14.03.2024 and whereas it is submitted that the said decision with a modification had been confirmed by the Division Bench. It is submitted by the learned advocate for the petitioners that since the petitioners are similarly situated to the petitioners of the above writ petitions, the same benefit as modified by the Division Bench, may be accorded to the present petitioners.

5. Learned AGP and learned advocate for the D