JUDGMENT

Pattanaik, J.-Leave granted.

2. These four appeals by way of Special Leave deal with one and the same scheme of amalgamation of the New Bank of India (hereinafter called as the "Transferor Bank") with the Punjab National Bank (hereinafter called the "Transferee Bank"). The employees of the Transferor Bank filed Writ Petitions, one by the officers and another by the workmen challenging clause 4(a)(iii) and clause 4(b)(ii) of the Scheme dated 8th December, 1993 called the New Bank of India (Determination of Placement of Employee (officers and workmen) of the New Bank of India in Punjab National Bank) Scheme, 1993 (hereinafter called the "Placement Scheme"). The aforesaid scheme had been framed by the Government of India in exercise of the powers conferred by Section 9 of the Banking Companies (Acquisition and Transfer of Undertaking Act, 1980) (hereinafter referred to as "the Acquisition Act"). The employees of the Transferee Bank also filed Writ Petitions in the High Court of Punjab & Haryana challenging the Placement Scheme on the ground that the seniority of the employees of the Transferee Bank has been altered to their disadvantage on account of the principle of seniority