V. K. Khanna, C.J.-

These connected writ appeals and Civil Rules were heard together as common questions of fact and law arose for determination. On 23.5.96, after hearing all the counsel for the parties, the Court ordered that Writ Appeal No. 167 of 1996 will be treated as the leading case for the group of cases which will be headed as "Appointment to the Post of Junior Engineers, /PWD (Roads) - (Civil and Mechanical).

2. We have heard Mr. PK Goswami, Mr. AK Bhattacharyya, Mr. JM Choudhury, Mr. AChoudhury, Mr. N. Dutta, Mr. BD Das, Mrs. N. Saikia and all the other counsel adopted the arguments raised by these counsel appearing for the petitioners/appellants, and Mr. Sheikh Chand Mohammad, learned counsel appearing for the Chief Engineer, PWD (Roads) and Mr.DK Misra, learned counsel appearing for the private respondents.

3. The controversy raised hi these connected appeals and Civil Rules relate to the recruitment to the posts of Junior Engineer (Civil) and Junior Engineer (Mechanical) in the department of Public Work (Roads), Assam. Pursuant to a requisition dated 20.7.93 sent by the Chief Engineer, PWD (Roads), Assam the Assam Public Service Commission (APSC for sh