( 1 ) SURYAKANT Chandrakar (petitioner in W. P. No. 3715/1998), Mukund Marotirao Khanti (petitioner in W. P. No. 2704/98) as also Smt. Gyani Lunia, (respondent No. 3 in both the writ petitions), Manju Kiran Kalia (respondent No. 4 in W. P. No. 3715/98 and respondent No. 5 in W. P. No. 2704/98), Gopinath Sao (respondent No. 5 in W. P. No. 3715/98 and respondent No. 4 in W. P. 2704/98), hereinafter referred to as the 'appointees', besides 9 other persons were candidates for appointment as notaries in Mahasamund Tahsil of the District of Raipur. Petitioners being aggrieved by their non-appointments and appointments of respondents No. 3 to 5 aforesaid, have filed the present writ petitions and pray for issuance of an appropriate writ, order or direction commanding respondents No. 1 and 2 to appoint them as notaries for Mahasamund Tahsil for a period of 5 years with effect from 30th of July 1998 and to quash the appointments of respondents No. 3 to 5 as notaries.

( 2 ) BRIEFLY stated facts giving rise to the present writ petition are that respondent No. 2, the District and Sessions Judge, Raipur i. e. , the competent authority, issued notice dated 24th of Sept. 1997 invi