Markandey Katju, CJ.

These four writ appeals are filed against the common order of the learned single Judge passed in four connected writ petitions on 11.12.2002.

2. Heard learned counsel for the parties, and perused the records.

3. The writ petitioners prayed for quashing of paragraph-8 of the impugned circular in R.C.No.11677/B.L.4/89 of the respondent (appellant herein) dated 24.08.1993 discontinuing payment of subsidy interest to the Housing Development Finance Corporation (hereinafter referred to as HDFC), and for a consequential order directing the respondent in the writ petitions (the appellant) to continue to give subsidy interest towards house building advance and to refund the amount deducted from their salary towards subsidy to HDFC.

4. The petitioner in W.P.No.7660 of 1994 Mr.N.Pandurangan joined the service of the Tamil Nadu Cements Corporation Ltd. as typist in the year 1972 at their Alangulam works. The respondent is a Government of Tamil Nadu Undertaking and is a ‘State’ under Article 12 of the Constitution of India. The petitioner was promoted as Senior Typist in the year 1987. It is alleged that on 10.09.1992 his post was upgraded to the Managerial Cadr