K. Venkataswami, J. - (1.) Leave granted.
(2.) The law on the common issue that arises for decision in these cases is well settled and, therefore, we do not propose to write a detailed judgment. The common issue that arises in all these cases can be broadly stated as follows:- "Whether the appellant-Board has acted illegally or contrary to law in introducing a pension scheme to the employees, who were hitherto not governed by such pension scheme, prospectively from 1-7-1986. To put it differently, whether the employees (respondents) who were all retired before 1-7-86 after receiving all retiral benefits available to them as per the law existing on their dates of retirement, can compel the appellant-Board to extend the benefit of newly introduced pension scheme with retrospective effect."
(3.) Let us now give facts in brief to appreciate the common issue raised in these cases.;