1. A commendable stand by the Government, to assure independence of the judiciary, was taken in favour of an exclusive jurisdiction to be exercised by the High Court to select persons for appointment to the posts of Munsiffs in the Civil Judicial Service. The first step in the right direction in this regard was the amendment of the relevant regulations and rules to exclude the consultative jurisdiction of the Public Service Commission in respect of these officers and to regulate the process of selection only through the High Court.

2. The Supreme Court, on being informed about the transfer of jurisdiction from the Public Service Commission to the High Court, observed as follows:

"We should record our sense of happiness at the said action so promptly taken by the State Government".

(Vide Civil No. 2109/85 dated 20-4-1987 against the decision of this Court in ILR. 1985 (1) Kerala 516)

3. The petitioners in these two writ petitions, are aspirants for the posts of Munsiffs. Four of them are over-aged and are, therefore, not entitled to apply for selection pursuant to the notification issued by the High Court in 1987. But all of them had submitted applications to the Public Serv