The present petitioners/Degree Holders in Civil Engineering, who came to be appointed as Assistant Engineers in the Highways Department in different spells during 1991-92, 1993-95 and 1995-96 through the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (referred hereinafter as the 'Commission/TNPSC') after emerging successful in various Tests and Exams conducted by the Commission, have approached this Court invoking its jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Constitution of India through the above writ petitions which, in all, contain prayers in three dimensions:

(a) challenging the Government Orders in G.O. Ms. Nos.155 and 156 dated 16.07.1993 whereby compassionate appointments and regularisation of such appointments in respect of respondents/compassionate appointees were allowed for Class-II Services in the Highways Department (vide prayer in WP Nos.32063/04 and 6457/06);

(b) questioning the Seniority List published on 15.06.2004 and seeking a consequential direction to the official respondents-1 to 4 to place the petitioners above the respondents-compassionate appointees (vide prayer in WP Nos.32062 of 2004 and 6458 of 2006); and

(c) to declare the appointments of the respondents/c