JUDGMENT

Lokeshwar Singh Panta, J. —

1. Leave granted.

2. This appeal by special leave is directed against the judgment and order dated 25th November, 2004 passed by the High Court of Calcutta in MAT No. 171 of 2002 whereby and whereunder the order of the learned Single Judge of the High Court dated 15th October, 2001 recorded on Writ Petition No. 6935(W) of 1999 was affirmed and the appellants herein were directed to give retiral benefits to all the writ petitioners/respondents 1 to 8-retirees in accordance with the Central Government Pension Scheme as opted by them in the year 1989 within a period of four weeks from the date of communication of the order.

3. Briefly stated, the facts of the case are as follows :-

The respondents 1 to 8-retirees herein were employees of the Overseas Communication Service (OCS), the Department of Telecommunications of the Government of India. The OCS was converted into a Government Company, namely, ‘Videsh Sanchar Nigam Limited’ (VSNL) on 1st April, 1986.

4. By an Office Memorandum No. 4(8)/85-P & PW dated 13th January, 1986, the Government of India settled the pensionary terms of Government employees who were transferred to an Autonomous Body/Pu