(1.) ALL these writ petitions are disposed of by a common judgment as common questions of law and facts are involved.
(2.) THE respondent -H.P. Public Service Commission (hereinafter referred to as "the Commission") issued advertisement notice No. V/2012, dated 5th January, 2013 (Annexure P -1), for filling up nine vacancies of Himachal Pradesh Administrative Service, Class -I (Gazetted). The desirous candidates applied and the preliminary examination was conducted on 16th June, 2013, in terms of the Himachal Pradesh Administrative Service Rules, 1973 (hereinafter referred to as the "Rules of 1973") read with the Himachal Pradesh Public Service Commission (Procedure and Transaction of Business and Procedure for the conduct of Examinations, Screening Tests and Interviews Etc.) Rules, 2007 (hereinafter referred to as the "Rules of 2007"). The answer key was displayed on the website on 30th July, 2013, and seven days' time was given for raising objections.
(3.) THE petitioners have questioned the same on the grounds taken in the memo of respective writ petitions and in CWP No. 9243 of 2013, Mr. B.C. Negi, Advocate, has also raised a ground that a reserve category candidate, who has scored marks more than the marks obtained by the last eligible general category candidate, has to be considered in general category and in that process, next candidate from the reserve category from the queue has to be shown to have qualified the preliminary examination.