(1.) RULES issued returnable forthwith. Respondents waive service through their respective Counsel. By consent, rules called out and heard finally.
(2.) THESE three writ petitions, though marginally variant on facts, arise out of the same circumstances and impugn the action of the first respondents, Air-India Limited, of reducing the age of superannuation form 60 years to 58 years. Hence, it would be convenient to dispose of all the three writ petitions by a common judgment. For the sake of convenience, we would recite in detail the facts in Writ Petition No. 1473 of 1999 and indicate the variation in facts in the other two writ petitions.
(3.) THE petitioners is Writ Petition No. 1473 of 1999 are employees employed in various capacities with the first respondent. The petitioner in Writ Petition No. 1557 of 1999 is employed as a Pilot in the employment of the first respondent, while the petitioner in Writ Petition No. 1988 of 1999 is employed as Joint General Manager in the Operations Department of the first respondent. Thus, amongst the three writ petitions are covered employees at various levels i. e. employees covered by the provisions of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 and Middle Management and Senior Manager/officers.