In view of the common issues involved in all the writ petitions, they have been taken up together for disposal and a common order is passed.

2. The brief facts of the case in a nutshell are as follows:

A notification was issued by the Tamil Nadu Uniformed Services Recruitment Board as per the directions of the Government of Tamil Nadu in the newspapers on 18.07.2006 for the recruitment of Sub-Inspector of Police. The Tamil Nadu Uniformed Services Recruitment Board has been constituted by the Government of Tamil Nadu for the purpose of recruiting the eligible candidates for various posts in the police department. The notification has been issued for the selection of 682 Sub-Inspector of Police. The selection was for a large number of vacancies since over the years the posts have not been filled up. Out of 682 posts, 517 vacancies have been reserved for direct recruitment and out of the same 445 were meant for men and 72 for women respectively. Two women ST candidates from the backlog vacancies in direct recruitment of selection were also included in the list. Of the remaining 146 vacancies which have been earmarked for departmental candidates with the percentage of 20, 12