COMMON ORAL JUDGMENT

1. Heard learned Senior Advocate Mr. Shalin Mehta with learned Advocate Ms. Aditi Raol and learned Advocate Ms. Shikha Panchal for the petitioners, learned AGP Mr. Sahil Trivedi for the respondent-State and learned Advocate Ms. Vyoma K. Jhaveri for the respondent No.4- Central Government.

2. Since common questions have been raised in all the petitions, the petitions are taken up for hearing jointly.

1 . The Introduction :

3. For the purpose of reference, facts of Special Civil Application No.8164 of 2015 are being considered by this Court.

3.1. The petitioners have prayed for the following prayers :

"29.A. Your Lordships be pleased to issue a writ of certiorari or any other appropriate writ, order or direction, declaring the engagement by the respondent authorities of the petitioners no. 2 to 314 as Project Workers/ Voluntary Workers under the Integrated Child Development Services Scheme on honorarium is opposed to the mandate of Directive Principles contained in Articles 38, 39, 40, 41, 42 and 47 of the Constitution of India as also violative of Articles 14, 16, 21 and 23 of the Constitution of India ;

B. Your Lordships be pleased to issue a writ of mandamus or an