M.Y.EQUBAL, J. - (1.) IN these writ petitions since, common question of law and facts are involved, the same have been heard and disposed of by this common judgment.
(2.) PETITIONERS have prayed for quashing the order as contained in letter dated 29.11.2003 issued under the signature of Joint Director (Headquarter), Directorate, of Employment, Jharkhand, Ranchi whereby services of the petitioners have been terminated on the basis of letter issued by Director, Directorate of Employment and Training, Government of Bihar vide memo dated 21.10.2003. There are altogether 22 writ petitioners. Their case is that they being eligible for appointment on Class III posts got themselves registered in different employment exchanges. Inl989 the Assistant Director, Directorate of Employment and Training made requisition for appointment against the vacant class -Ill posts from the employment exchange and advertisements to that effect were also made in the local newspaper. Pursuant to that names of the petitioners were forwarded by the Employment Exchange. Their further case is that a Selection Committee was constituted who considered the names of the eligible candidates including the petitioners and after interview a panel of selected candidates were prepared. Petitioners were thereafter issued appointment letters in 1991. Petitioners submitted their joining and started working at different vacant posts. However, the Director, Directorate of Employment and Training, Patna suddenly issued memo No. 2054 dated 9.9.1992 by which services of 25 persons including petitioner Nos. 1, 2, 3. 6, 8, 10, 12, 13 and 14 were terminated on the ground that their appointments were made in excess of the sanctioned strength of the clerks. Several writ petitions were filed before the Patna High Court challenging the order of termination being CWJC No. 12059/1992, CWJC No. 12649/1992 and CWJC No. 10380/1992. Those writ, petitions were heard and disposed of on 16.8.1994.
(3.) PETITIONERS ' further case is that thereafter petitioners were reinstated in service on 2.9.1995. Petitioners were again called upon to submit show cause with regard to validity of their appointment. In 2003 a Committee was constituted by the Labour, Employment and Training Department, Government of Bihar for making enquiry and the said Committee submitted its report on 5.7.2003. The Committee after considering the individual show cause and other documents of 61 persons, declared the appointment of 56 persons including all the 16 writ petitioners legal and valid. Copy of the inquiry report has been annexed as Annexure -13 to the writ petition. However, after bifurcation of the State and the allotment of cadres, the impugned order dated 21.10.2003 was issued under the signature of Director, Labour, Employment and Training, Bihar Patna whereby the appointment of 24 clerks in Jharkhand was declared illegal and the Government of Jharkhand was directed to take necessary action in the matter. On the basis of aforesaid letter of the Director, the impugned order of termination was issued by the Government of Jharkhand terminating the services of the petitioners.;