Judgment

S.B. Majmudar, J.-Leave granted in Special Leave Petitions.

2. By consent of learned advocates appearing for contesting parties this group of nine appeals was heard finally and is being disposed of by this common judgment.

3. The common appellant, India Bank, in this group of appeals has brought in challenge the judgment and orders of Division Benches of Madras High Court allowing writ petitions of the respondents concerned who are the heirs and legal representatives of deceased employees of Bank of Thanjavur Limited which was amalgamated with the appellant - bank with effect from 20th February 1990 in accordance with the Scheme of Amalgamation framed under Section 45 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Act’). The respondents concerned had sought compassionate appointments from the appellant - bank on the ground that they were the heirs and legal representatives of the deceased employees of Thanjavur Bank (hereinafter referred to as ‘the transferor bank’) whose assets and liabilities were taken over by the appellant - bank, hereinafter referred to as ‘the transferor bank’ for the sake of convenience. The claim of the respondents for such ap­po