P.R. Ramachandra Menon, J.

All these original petitions have been filed by the applicants in the concerned O.As, who lost their battle in the first round. The challenge is against the interference declined by the Central Administrative Tribunal as to the correctness and sustainability of the relevant Recruitment Rules as amended in the years 2010 and 2012 [Department of Posts (Postman & Mail Guard) Recruitment Rules, 2010 and Department of Posts (Postman & Mail Guard) Recruitment (Amendment) Rules, 2012 respectively], whereby the method of recruitment to the posts of MTS (Multi Tasking Staff) and Postman has undergone a substantial change, as to the course to be followed, if qualified departmental hands are not available to fill up the posts. Earlier, such unfilled posts were being thrown open to the employees who are working as GDS, till the year 2010, whereas after the amendment of the Rules, the field to the said extent goes for direct recruitment. For convenience of reference, O.P. (CAT) No. 23 of 2015 is taken as the lead case.

2. All the petitioners herein belong to GDS, serving in different capacities for quite long. They were aspirants to be promoted to the post of