Viswanatha Iyer, J.

The Kerala Public Service Commission issued notification dated March 12,1985 inviting applications for the post of Amin in ten districts, including Kannur, Ernakulam and Idukky. Four vacancies were notified in Kannur, and one in Idukki, while the number of vacancies in Ernakulam remained to be ascertained. The petitioners in these five writ petitions applied for the post, for which an examination was held, and eventually select lists prepared and published in 1988, in which the petitioners were included, some of them with the topmost ranks. Petitioners were nevertheless not appointed, because of an amendment to the statutory rules by the government order dated December 6,1985, a copy of which is Ext.P2 in O.P.No.9879 of 1989. Petitioners have filed these Original Petitions with prayer for direction to the respondents to appoint them in the vacancies which existed on 12-3-1985, in accordance with the select lists prepared by the Public Service Commission.

2. The post of Amins is borne in category 7 of class I of the Kerala Judicial Ministerial Service governed by the Kerala Judicial Ministerial Service Rules, made under S.2 of the Kerala Public Services