(1.) THESE writ petitions, seeking to issue a writ of quo-warranto, are filed by the petitioners to call upon the third respondent to show cause under what authority he has been holding the post of the Director of the National Institute of Ocean Technology, Chennai - 100 (hereinafter referred to as 'NIOT').
(2.) PETITIONER in W.P.No.23652 of 2010 served as the Director of NIOT/the second respondent Institute and also participated in the selection process for the post of Director of the NIOT, who was not selected, instead third respondent was selected for the post. Petitioner in W.P.No.9717 of 2011 is a retired Administrative Officer of NIOT.
(3.) THE first respondent has filed counter affidavit contending as follows: