S.J. Mukhopadhaya, J.

1. All these cases relate to condition of services of work-charged employees of the State. Common questions of law being involved in all the writ petitions, they have been heard together and are being disposed of by this common judgment.

2. In 1st set of the cases i.e. W.P. (S) Nos. 2166 of 2003, 2210 of 2003, 1750 of 2004, 3254 of 2004, 3588 of 2004 and 6826 of 2002 the petitioners have prayed for a direction on the respondents to regularize their services by taking over their services along with posts in the permanent (regular) establishment of the State.

3. In 2nd set of the cases i.e. W.P. (S) Nos. 3854 of 2004, 6471 of 2004, 4360 of 2004 and 4744 of 2004, the petitioners have prayed for a direction on the respondents to consider their cases for compassionate appointments. In some of the cases, their claim have been rejected by the respondents.

4. In the 3rd set of the cases i.e. W.P. (S) Nos. 3963 of 2004, 4264 of 2004, 6437 of 2004 the petitioners have prayed for a direction on the respondents to pay them the death-cum-retiral benefits, such as, family pension, gratuity, leave encashment, provident fund, group insurance etc.

5. The questions, involved in