GOVINDAN NAIR, J. : The question is whether the equality of opportunity in matters relating to employment or appointment to any office under the State guaranteed by Article 16(1) of the Constitution of India, has been denied to the petitioner, and whether the provision in Art. 16(2) that there shall be no discrimination on grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex, descent, place of birth, residence or any of them in respect of any employment or office under the State, has been violated.

2. The State Government by letter No. 42818/C3/63-2 Home dated 8-11-1963 requested the Public Service Commission to advise 24 candidates from the Bar for appointment as Munsiffs in the scale of Rs. 300-700 in the Judicial Service of the Kerala State. A Notification No. RII(20) 10612/63 dated 28th November, 1963, (Ext. P1) was then issued by the Public Service Commission and published in the Kerala Gazette dated 3rd December, 1963, inviting applications from qualified candidates for direct recruitment from the Bar as Munsiffs in the Judicial Service of the Kerala State on the above scale of pay. Qualifications were stated and the conditions that should be satisfied, enumerated in the notifi