Manish Sharma, Advocate, for respondents No. 7 to 11 and 13 to 15 in LPA No. 506 of 2024 and for respondent No.4 in LPA No. 34 of 2025 : Mr. J.P. Sharma, Advocate, for respondent No.12 in LPA No. 506 of 2024 Bipin Chander Negi, Judge Since the aforesaid two appeals arise out of a common judgment dated 20.11.2024 and raise a common question, hence they are being taken up together. By virtue of the impugned judgment dated 20.11.2024, petitions preferred by the present appellants were dismissed by the learned Single Judge. For the adjudication of the appeals in the case at hand facts in CWPOA No. 5329 of 2019 wherefrom LPA No. 506 of 2024 arises are being considered herein below.

2. The present respondent No.5 had issued an advertisement bearing No. IV-2013 dated 1.1.2013 for selection of various posts to be filled up on the basis of Himachal Pradesh Administrative and Allied Services Competitive Examination, 2013. A perusal of the advertisement Annexure A-1 (page 16 of the writ paper book) reflects that the Himachal Pradesh Administrative Combined Competitive Examination consisted of thr