AR. Lakshmanan, J.

Two common questions arise for determination in these cases, viz. (1) whether the amendment brought to the General Rules (Kerala State and Subordinate Services rules) as per notification G.O. (P) No. 57/92 P&ARD dated 5th December, 1992 issued by the Personnel and Administrative Reforms (rules) Department of the Government of Kerala would take away the rights of the petitioners in the Original Petitions for appointment against 20% of the successive substantive vacancies arising in the cadre of Sales tax Officers? (2) When the Special Rules clearly speak of the method of recruitment, whether any amendment to the General Rules, which go in conflict with the Special Rules, will hamper the rights of persons arising out of the Special Rules.

O.P. No. 13871 of 1997

2. The petitioners in this Original Petition applied for selection to the post of Sales Tax Officers in the Agricultural Income Tax and Sales tax Department pursuant to the notification published in the gazette dated 11.8.1987 the Kerala Public Service Commission (hereinafter to be referred to as the 'Commission'). They got selected and included in the ranked list published by the Commission on 13.5