V. Dhanapalan, J.

1. Petitioners have filed these Writ Petitions, praying for issuance of a writ of certiorarified mandamus, calling for the records of the first respondent relating to R.O.C.No.17/2009-Con.B2 dated 5.5.2009, to quash the same in so far as it promotes and posts respondents 3 and 4 as Civil Judges (Senior Division) in the Pondicherry Judicial Service and consequently direct the first respondent to fix the seniority of the Civil Judges (Junior Division), Pondicherry Judicial Service, as per the merit list prepared by it, pursuant to Notification No.87/2001, dated 6.8.2001, and to further consider and promote the petitioners as Civil Judge (Senior Division) with effect from 5.5.2009, with all consequential benefits flowing therefrom.

2. The High Court of Madras, by its notification No.87/2001, dated 06.08.2001, invited applications for selection and appointment to six vacancies, including two anticipated vacancies, in the post of Civil Judge (Junior Division)/Judicial Magistrate I Class in the Pondicherry Judicial Service, to be made by direct recruitment, under the provisions of Pondicherry Judicial Service (Cadre and Recruitment) Rules, 1996, hereinafter ref