WANCHOO, C. J.

( 1 ) THESE are four connected writ applications of Chiranjilal, Madansingh, Udaibhan and Ramsingh against the Union of India and the Divisional Superintendent, Northern Railway, Jodhpur. We shall deal with them together as their facts are exactly similar, and the points raised are exactly the same.

( 2 ) THE case of the applicants is that they entered service of the former Jodhpur railway as clerks in the grain shop in 1946. Though the applicants have not said so in so many words in their applications, it appears that the grain shop department was a temporary department. This is clear from what they have said in paragraph 3 of their petition, namely, that they were rendered surplus on the grain shop department being wound up in 1952. Their case further is that on the winding up of this department they were absorbed with effect from 1st of January, 1953, in a clerks grade from Rs. 55 to 130. Later, they were transferred to the Bikaner division as trains clerks in the same grade. In September, 1953, the applicants were, however, transferred back to Jodhpur. On their arrival in Jodhpur, they were appointed as Acting Pointsmen in class TV in the grade of Rs. 3