JUDGMENT

Shivaraj V. Patil J.-Leave granted.

2. In this appeal, the appellant has assailed the judgment and order dated 5.12.1997 passed by the Division Bench of the High Court of Assam, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura and Arunachal Pradesh at Gauhati made in Writ Appeal No. 124/96. In brief, the facts leading to the filing of this appeal are the following.

3. The appellant joined the services of the respondent-Corporation in 1973 as Receptionist-cum-Telephone Operator. After passing LL.B. degree examination, she was promoted to the post of legal Assistant in 1981. Subsequently she was promoted as Assistant Law Officer, Law Officer and finally as Senior Law Officer in 1995 [re-designated as Deputy Manager (Law)].

4. In 1992 the respondent-Corporation issued a special scheme "AIDC Voluntary Retirement Scheme, 1992" (for short the "Scheme") as a special measure in the form of a golden handshake providing an option to its employees for voluntary retirement who had completed 10 years of service in the Corporation or 40 years of age.

5. The appellant having served the respondent-Corporation for nearly 23 years and attaining the age of 42 years with a view to avail the benefit