(1.) These two appeals under Clause 10 of the Letters Patent of the Patna High Court arise out of a common judgment dated 31 -1 -2001, passed by a learned Single Judge of this Court, whereby he has allowed the two writ petitions before him and has directed the authorities to regularise the services of the petitioners by completing the formalities, if any, within two weeks of the receipt/production of a copy of the judgment.
(2.) L.P.A. No. 240 of 2001 is in respect of C.WJ.C. No. 11952 of 1999, wherein six petitioners joined together and prayed for quashing of item No. 20 of the resolution of the Bihar State Housing Board (hereinafter referred to as 'the Board') passed in its 187th meeting held on 27 -9 -1999 (Annexure -5 to C.WJ.C. No. 10596 of 1999), which is to the effect that the work from the petitioners may be taken on contract basis w.e.f. 1 -11 -1999 as per the need. It was further prayed for a direction to the respondents -appellants to regularise the services of the petitioners -respondents again the vacant sanctioned posts on which they have been working for the last 10 years or so without break. The writ petitioners (respondent Nos. 3 to 8 herein) were appointed by the Managing Director of the Board under Section 16(iii)(a) of the Bihar State Housing Board Act, 1982 (hereinafter referred to as 'the Act') for a period of three months on 4 -7 -1989,4 -7 -1989,28 -11 -1990 and 5 -10 -1989 respectively. They have been working continuously ever since then without break. The writ petitioners further asserted that they have been working against permanent, vacant sanctioned posts and their jobs are of perennial nature. They have been working on Class III posts like Legal Assistants, typists, etc.
(3.) L.P.A. No. 240 of 2001 arises from C.WJ.C. No. 10596 of 1999, wherein four petitioners joined together with same or similar pleas. The petitioners were initially appointed in the same manner for a period of three months between 1989 to 1991 and have been continuously working ever since then without break. They were similarly appointed in terms of Section 16(iii)(a) of the Act.