JUDGMENT :

C.T. RAVIKUMAR, J.

1. This bunch of writ petitions came before us for consideration based on an Order of Reference made by a learned Single Judge. The common issue raised is that whether the writ petitioners, who are candidates belonging to different districts, are entitled to get awarded 5 marks as grace marks over and above the marks for interview in their home districts, as candidates of home districts, in respect of recruitment to Co-operative Societies covered by Section 80B of the Kerala Co-operative Societies Act, 1969 (for brevity “KCS Act”) in terms of the provisions under clause (IV-A) of sub-rule (4) of Rule 182 of the Kerala Co-operative Societies Rules, 1969 (for brevity “KCS Rules”). Except in W.P. (C) No. 12310 of 2018, in all the other writ petitions the writ petitioners seek for award of 5 marks, over and above the marks scored by each of them, out of the total marks of ‘15’ for the interview, in respect of selections in question, in terms of the aforesaid provision under the KCS Rules. In W.P. (C) No. 12310 of 2018 there is challenge against its constitutionality. The petitioner therein mainly seeks the following prayers:-

“(a) That provision contained in