S.P. Talukdar, J. - (1.) Both the applications under Article 226 of the Constitution relate to the same facts and involve identical points of law. Those are governed by this common judgment.
(2.) Grievance of the writ petitioners, as ventilated in the said applications, relate to alleged illegality on the part of the respondent authority in cancelling the selection proceedings as reflected from the order passed by the Chief Security Commissioner, being Annexure -'P -6' at page -53 in W.P. No. 2806(W) of 2008.
(3.) The petitioners are enrolled members of the Railway Protection Force of Eastern Railway. They are in the rank of Constables and Head Constables and are posted in different divisions. In response to the notification issued by the Deputy Chief Security Commissioner, RPF, Eastern Railway relating to holding of limited departmental competition under Rule 72 of RPF Rules, 1987, the writ petitioners appeared and contested the said selection test along with other eligible candidates. They were successful both in the written examination and the practical test including IT, PT and Riot Drill. A viva -voce test was held under Sub -rule (2) of Rule 71 of RPF Rules, 1987. After the said test a final select list of 28 candidates was prepared and the petitioners were placed in the said final list according to the merit in the selection test. The petitioners were also declared fit for selection in the rank of Assistant Sub -Inspectors by the Departmental Promotion Committee and their names were placed in the final select list dated 26.5.2007 as per merit. Rule 64 of RPF Rules, 1987 provides that enrolled members of the force on being regularly selected for promotion to the rank of Assistant Sub -Inspectors shall undergo a Special Course which has been referred as a promotion course at any Training Institution of the force and the duration of the said training may be fixed by the Director General. The petitioners being so selected were directed to attend the Kanchrapara Training Institution for their promotional post training. Such training continued for a period of 10 weeks.;