ARIJIT PASAYAT, J.

( 1 ) CHALLENGE in this appeal is to the judgment of the division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court dismissing the Letters Patent Appeal filed by the appellants questioning the legality of the judgment rendered by a learned single Judge dismissing the writ petition.

( 2 ) THE controversy lies within a very narrow compass. The appellants were employees of respondent No. 1 (hereinafter referred to as the 'employer' ). A voluntary retirement scheme was floated by the employer on 26. 5. 1995. Undisputedly, appellants and 125 others opted to be covered by the scheme. They were paid the amounts required to be paid under the scheme. Subsequently, a settlement was arrived at between the management and the workmen through the registered union on 13. 10. 1995. The settlement was in terms of Section 12 (3) of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 (in short the 'act' ). 143 persons including the present appellants raised a dispute on two issues; one relating to the age of retirement and the other relating to monetary benefits. According to them, the settlement arrived at on 13. 10. 1995 also covered their cases and they were entitled to higher amounts. The claim was m