Heard Mr. D. Saikia, learned Advocate General, Assam assisted by Mr. D. Nath, learned Senior Government Advocate, Assam appearing for the appellants in Writ Appeal No.167/2018 and Mr. D. Das, learned senior counsel assisted by Ms. S. Sharma, learned counsel appearing for the appellants in Writ Appeal Nos.165/2018 and 166/2018. We have also heard Mr. K. N. Choudhury, learned senior counsel assisted by Mr. T. Chakraborty, learned counsel appearing for the respondents/writ petitioners in all the three Writ Appeals.

2. These three intra-court appeals arise out of the common judgment and order dated 26.04.2018 passed by the learned Single Judge in WP(C) No.1149/2018 involving common question of law and facts and therefore, these appeals are being disposed of by a common order. The facts and circumstances, giving rise to the filing of these Writ Appeals are briefly narrated here-in-below.

3. The respondent No.1 viz., Assam Civil Service Officers Association, which is an association of Assam Civil Service Officers, along with its General Secretary, had instituted WP(C) No.1149/2018 being aggrieved by the decision of the Government of Assam to recommend the names of 10 officers belonging to