JUDGMENT

DUTT, J.:— In these writ petitions, the petitioners are former officers and employees of the Caltex Oil Refining (India) Ltd., which has since been amalgamated with the Hindustan Petrolem Corporation Limited. The complaint of the petitioners is with regard to the inter se fitment of the officers and employees of the Caltex Oil Refining (India) Ltd. and the other two Companies which have also been amalgamated with Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd., namely, ESSO Standard Refining Company of India Ltd. and Lube India Ltd.

2. In 1974, the Undertakings in India of ESSO Eastern Inc., that is, ESSO Standard Refining Company of India Ltd. (for short ESSO) and Lube India Ltd. (for short LIL) were acquired by the ESSO (Acquisition of Undertakings in India) Act, 1974 and vested in Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (for short HPCL), a Government Company. In 1977, the shares of Caltex Oil Refining (India) Ltd. and Undertakings in India of Caltex (India) Ltd. were acquired by the Caltex (Acquisition of shares of Caltex Oil Refining (India) Ltd. and the Undertaking in India of Caltex (India) Ltd.) Act, 1977 and vested in Caltex Oil Refining (India) Ltd. (for short CORIL), a Governme