JUDGMENT

Sanjay Dhar, J.

1. By this common judgment and order, we propose to dispose of the following cases:

(i) Intra-Court appeals bearing LPASW Nos. 199/2017 & 200/2017 against the judgment and order dated 19.09.2017 passed by the Writ Court in SWP Nos. 2218/2016, 66/2017 & 1147/2017 of Srinagar wing of the Court,

(ii) Intra-Court appeals bearing LPA Nos. 176/2018, 166/2018, 169/2018 & 171/2018 against the judgment and order dated 18.08.2018 passed by the Writ Court in SWP No. 360/2017 of Jammu Wing of the Court, and

(iii) Writ petitions bearing SWP Nos. 2680/2015, 577/2016, 1103/2017, 1993/2017, 1876/2018, 1980/2018, 2669/2018 & APSWP No. 19/2016 of Jammu Wing of the Court.

(A) Background facts:

2. The J&K Service Selection Board (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Board’) issued three separate Advertisement Notices on 16.04.2002, 04.05.2005 & 26.05.2008 inviting applications for a total of 111 posts of Naib-Tehsildars. The selection process culminated in making recommendation by the Board in favour of selected candidates, who were appointed to the posts of Naib-Tehsildars. The proc