1. - All these 16 cases involve a common question of law and the facts involved are almost similar, therefore, they are being disposed by a common order. Out of these 16 petitioners, nine petitioners, namely, Prabhu Singh, Mangla Ram, Hanuman Ram, Satya Narain, Ramesh Chandra, Suresh Kumar, Shanker Lal, Hari Singh and Sohan Lal are Naka Guards; two petitioners, namely, Bhanwar Lal and Rajendra Singh are Nakedar, four petitioners, namely, Arun Kumar, Ranjeet Singh, Vimal Kumar and Mohd. Asad are sub-Nakedar and one that is Mohd. Jahid is Gajdar, who were under the employment of the Municipal Board, Nagaur. All of them had been employed before 31-12-1984. However, their services have been terminated by a notice dated 26-8-1986 with effect from 26-9-1986 on the ground that there had been a reduction of the posts and that the initial appointment of each of the petitioners was irregular. All these notices are said to have been offered to the petitioners respectively but each one of them is said to have refused and, therefore, they were dispatched by registered post on 26-8-1986. The learned Counsel for the petitioners has challenged the termination of the services of all these