JUDGMENT

Sema, J.-Parties are heard.

2. In all these applications, the applicants sought to review/clarify modify the judgment and order of this Court rendered on 17.12.2002 in batches of Civil Appeals.

3. At the outset, we make it clear, that this Bench is not sitting on appeal over the judgment rendered by this Court on 17.12.2002. Factual Matrix leading to the filing of the present petitions is, therefore, obviated.

4. Before we advert further, we may at this stage, notice the operative directions rendered in the judgment sought to be reviewed/clarified, strictly relevant for the purpose of disposal of the present applications. This Court inter alia held that the request of an employee seeking voluntarily retirement would not take effect until and unless it was accepted in writing by the competent authority and, therefore, this Court upheld the right of the employee to withdraw his option from voluntary retirement before the same was accepted.

5. This Court further held in paragraphs 114 and 115 of the judgment as under:-

"114. However, it is accepted that a group of employees accepted the ex-gratia payment. Those who accepted the ex-gratia payment or any other benefit under th