JUDGMENT

B.N. MAHAPATRA, J. : Petitioners in W.P.(C) No.12869 of 2013 are seven in number. Petitioner Nos. 1, 2, 4 and 7 are AIEEE-2012 merit rank holder students and other petitioners are the OJEE-2012 merit rank holder students. They have filed the present writ petition with a prayer for issuance of appropriate writ/its in the nature of mandamus or of any other form directing opp.parties to regularize admission of the petitioners against B. Tech. Engineering Course for 2012-2013 batch and also for a direction to opposite party No.2- Biju Pattnaik University and Technology (for short, “BPUT”) for grant of University Registration number to the petitioners who are continuing their courses in opp.party No.4-College-National Institute of Science & Technology against non-reporting vacant seats in B.Tech Engineering course.

The Orissa Private Engineering College Association, (for short, “OPECA”) has filed W.P.(C) No.12653 of 2012 representing its member-institutions. In course of hearing, Mr. D.P. Dash, learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the facts and issues involved in both the writ petitions are similar and he adopted the arguments advanced by Mr. B. Routray, learned Seni