1. These appeals arise from the common judgment in O.P. No. 6063 and 6064 of 1989, by which the learned single judge disposed of five more Original Petitions. Petitioners therein were direct recruits, who were recommended for appointment as Officers in the South Malabar Gramin Bank, in 50% of the vacancies which were earmarked for direct recruits. The learned single judge allowed the Original Petitions, directing the first respondent-Bank "to make appointments to the 50% of the vacancies strictly in accordance with the provisions contained in the Second Schedule to the Rules and while so doing, the petitioners claim must also be considered in accordance with their ranking in Ext.P2 list."

2. The appellants are the South Malabar Gramin Bank Employees Union, representing employees of the first respondent and three such individual employees. They were respondents 2 to 5 in the Original Petitions. Some of them are candidates included in the list and recommended for appointment in 50% of the vacancies, which are available for promotees in accordance with the rules.

3. The main grounds on which the appellants assail the judgment of the learned single judge are:

(1) that this cou