JUDGMENT :

1. This is a bunch of four special appeals which arise out of a common judgment and order dated 19.10.2022 passed by the learned Single Judge in writ petitions no. 5392 (Writ-A) of 2022 (Poonam Dwivedi Vs. State of U.P. and others); Writ Petition No. 6974 (Writ-A) of 2022 (Divya Awasthi Vs. State of U.P. and others); Writ Petition No. 6911 (Writ-A) of 2022 (Archana Saxena Vs. State of U.P. and others); Writ Petition No. 5264 (Writ-A) of 2022 (Komal Vs. State of U.P. and others) and Writ Petition No. 6357 of 2022 (Shanu Tiwari Vs. State of U.P. and others as well as in Writ Petition No. 2109 of 2022 (Thakura Devi and Another Vs. State of U.P. and others). Since the issue of fact and law is common in all the four appeals, hence, they are being decided by this common judgment.

2. In order to appreciate the controversy involved in the instant appeals, certain facts leading up to the appeals are being noticed hereinafter. For the sake of convenience, the facts are being noted from leading Special Appeal No. 467 of 2022, however, wherever required the respective data and dates relating to the contesting respondents/writ petitioners will be noted at the appropriate place.

3. The U