Hon’ble Ashwani Kumar Mishra, J.—The Governor of Uttar Pradesh in exercise of powers conferred by the proviso to Article 309 of the Constitution of India has made rules regulating recruitment and conditions of service of Assistant Teachers (Trained Graduates Grade), in Government Secondary Schools, known as the Uttar Pradesh Subordinate Educational (Trained Graduates Grade) Service Rules, 1983 (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Rules of 1983’). The Rules of 1983, as they originally stood, contemplated a cadre of Trained Graduate Teachers, both for men and women at regional level. Posts in the cadre were to be filled by direct recruitment and also by promotion through the U.P. Public Service Commission (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Commission’). The Commission was to invite applications for direct recruitment and subject the candidates having eligibility in terms of the rule to interview, and accordingly prepare a select list. The Rules of 1983 have been amended from time to time, which have a material bearing on the controversy raised in this bunch of writ petitions. As all these writ petitions involve common questions of law and fact, and have been heard together, therefore, are being disposed of by this common judgment.

2. At the outset, it would be appropriate to refer to the successive amendments made in the Rules of 1983. First Amendment to the Rules of 1983 was made vide notification dated 6th November, 1992. Rule 5 of the 1983 Rules, which provided for direct recruitment to be made in the cadre through the Public Service Commission, was substituted with direct recruitment to be made by selection committee, as specified. For promotions also the Commission seized to have any role. Other amendments were also made with which the Court is not concerned as of now. Second Amendment in the Rules of 1983 was made vide notification dated 8th September, 2010. The qualifications prescribed for different posts in the cadre was amended. Rule 15, which provided for making of application to the Regional Deputy Director of Education, was amended to mean Regional Joint Director of Education. Recruitment procedure provided under the Second Amendment introduced in the Rules of 1983 remained intact.

3. Yet another notification was issued on 28.2.2014, incorporating amendment in the Rules of 1983 by way of Uttar Pradesh Subordinate Educational (Trained Graduates Grade) Service (Third Amendment) Rules, 2014. The maximum age for recruitment to the posts as provided in Rule 10 was increased from 32 to 40. Criteria for computation of quality point marks for selection by direct recruitment was altered. The weightage allocated for Postgraduate Degree was omitted. Rule 15 was also amended, which dealt with the manner of preparation of select list for selecting candidates by direct recruitment. With the changes brought about by the Third Amendment, recruitment to the cadre was to be made region-wise, with the appointing authority for direct recruitment being Regional Deputy Director of Education for the men branch and Regional Inspectress of Girl’s Schools in respect of women branch.

4. Rules of 1983 were yet again amended vide notification dated 19th October, 2016 pursuant to Fourth Amendment Rules of 2016. Rule 3 was amended and the appointing authority for both men branch and women branch was substituted as Additional Director of Education, Secondary, U.P. Allahabad. The regional cadre both for men and women branches, as it stood earlier, was substituted with a State cadre for men and women branches. The qualification for various posts were also prescribed. Rule 14, which provided for determination of vacancies to be filled during the course of year of recruitment, was required to be determined subjectwise for men and women branches. The procedure for direct recruitment was also modified. The selection committee also underwent a chan