(Elipe Dharma Rao, J.)

Since all the matters on hand are inextricably interconnected with each other, they are heard together and are being disposed of by this common order.

2. All these writ petitions pertain to the selection of All India Service Officers and Group A and Group B officers in various Government Departments conducted by the Union Public Service Commission. The Civil Services Examination is a combined examination catering to recruitment in more than 20 civil services and it consists of preliminary examination, main examination and interview.

3. The Union Public Service Commission has issued a notification dated 12. 2004 to fill up 457 posts in 21 different cadres. The preliminary examination was conducted on 15. 2005, the main examination was conducted on 210. 2005 and interview was held on 4. 2006 and the select lists were issued on 5. 2006 and 4. 2007. The break-up details of the posts as mentioned in the notification is as follows:

4. The Union Public Service Commission had published a list of 425 candidates who were successful in the Main Examination in the first phase and the remaining 32 in the second phase along with a consolidated reserve list of 64