JUDGMENT :

1. Heard learned counsels for the petitioners, Sri Yatindra, Sri Pankaj Kumar Tyagi, Sri Sanjay Kumar Singh, Sri Harshvardhan Gupta, Sri Ram Vilas Yadav, Sri Amit Shukla, Sri Santosh Kumar, Sri Ashok Kumar, Sri Syed Nadeem Ahmad learned counsels for the Basic Education Officers, Sri Durga Singh who appears for the State Project Director, Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan and Sri Bipin Bihari Pandey learned Chief Standing Counsel alongwith Sri Sanjay Chaturvedi for the State respondents.

2. This batch of writ petitions have been clubbed and heard for final disposal collectively with the consent of parties.

A. KASTURBA GANDHI BALIKA VIDYALAYA

3. All the petitioners were engaged by the respondents in residential schools established under the Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya Scheme[KGBV] launched by the Union Government. In August 2004, the Union Government launched a scheme for setting up of residential schools upto the upper primary level for girls belonging predominantly to the SC, ST, OBC and minorities in difficult areas. The scheme provided for the establishment of schools in ed