M. L. CHATURVEDI, J.:- These four writ petitions do not indicate the provision of law under which they have been made, but the cases have been argued on the assumption that these petitions have been made under Art.226 of the Constitution and they will be dealt with as such.

2. The different petitioners in all these petitions were on the roll of Civilian Staff of the Defence Ministry, Government of India, and were serving under the Central Ordnance Depot., Agra. They were previously discharged from service, but were afterwards either reinstated or re-employed, and in June 1953 they were working under the Ordnance Depot. There appears to have been a difference of opinion as regards the status and emoluments of the petitioners between the Ministry of Defence, Government of India, and the Audit Department. Ultimately the Union of India, by their letter dated 26-6-1953, communicated their decision to the effect that some of the personnel would be regarded as "reinstated", some as "re-employed" and certain others were kept under consideration.

The petitioners had been treated as having been re-employed. The petitioners sent representations objecting to their being treated as re-em