1. These petitions being C. W.P. No. 20113 of 2013, C. W.P. No. 23505 of 2013, C. W.P. No. 6315 of 2014, C. W.P. No. 8779 of 2014, C. W.P. No. 10084 of 2014, C. W.P. No. 10106 of 2014, C. W.P. No. 10802 of 2014, C. W.P. No. 15708 of 2014, C. W.P. No. 24006 of 2014 and C. W.P. No. 1955 of 2015 involving similar questions of fact and law, were taken up for hearing together and are being disposed of by this common judgment. For the sake of convenience, facts are being extracted from C. W.P. No. 20113 of 2013 - Dr. Sukhpreet Singh vs. Union of India and others.

2. In the year 2003, the Ministry of Defence, Government of India introduced the Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (hereinafter referred to as - the Scheme).

3. The Scheme aimed to provide medicare to ex-servicemen and their dependents through a network of polyclinics and service medical facilities spread across the country. The Scheme was a contributory Scheme and was to extend the earlier referred benefits on payment of contribution. The appointment of the staff, under the Scheme, was to be on contractual basis.

4. As per Appendix-A attached to the Scheme, for the category of Medical Officers/Specialists, D