(1.) Leave granted. Even though these appeals have a long and chequered history but it is not necessary to go into greater details thereof as on account of earlier orders passed by either the Full Benches of the High Court of Punjab and Haryana at Chandigarh or by this Court, several questions have already been answered. However, a thumbnail sketch of the facts of the case would still be necessary to be dealt with which we will advert to.
(2.) These appeals have been preferred by the High Court of Punjab and Haryana against the common Full Bench judgment and order dated 27-5-2008 passed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court at Chandigarh in several civil writ petitions preferred by the respondents herein.
(3.) The whole controversy had arisen on account of certain alleged irregularities having been committed by the then Chairman of the Punjab Public Service Commission (for short "the Commission") Shri Ravinder Pal Singh Siddhu, who had allegedly shown favours to many candidates who had appeared for Punjab Civil Services, Judicial Branch, by awarding more marks and then recommending for their appointments on extraneous considerations.