UJJAL BHUYAN, J.

Heard Mr. P.K. Goswami, learned senior counsel assisted by Mr. D.R. Gogoi and Ms. B. Choudhury, learned counsel for the petitioners. Also heard Mr. S.K. Medhi, learned senior counsel assisted by Mr. A. Das, learned counsel for the Gauhati High Court.

2. Grievance of both the writ petitioners being identical, the two writ petitions were heard together and are being disposed of by this common order.

3. Both the petitioners were Judicial Officers belong to the Assam Judicial Service who were compulsorily retired from service in exercise of powers confer red by rule 20 of the Assam Judicial Service Rules, 2003 read with FR 56(b), which is under challenge in the two writ petitions.

4. For the sake of convenience and for appreciation of the lis in the proper perspective, facts highlighted in WP No. 2732/2007 (Liakat Ali v. Gauhati High Court) are briefly narrated hereunder.

WP(C) No. 2732/2007

5. Petitioner was selected for appointment to Grade III of Assam Judicial Service vide Notification dated 5.3.1986 issued by the Secretary to the Government of Assam, Judicial Department pursuant to which he joined on 9.4.1986 as Second Class Magistrate at Nagaon. After renderi