Judgment S.B. SINHA, J.-

Leave granted.

2. This appeal IS directed against the judgment and order dated 13-9-2005 passed by a Division Bench of the Madras High Court in civil writ petitions tiled by the respondents herein.

3. The short question involved in these appeals related to interpretation of Regulation 17 of the Indian Bank (Employees') Pension Regulations, 1995 (hereinafter referred to as "the Pension Regulations"), vis-a-vis Regulation 37 of the Indian Bank Officers' Service Regulations, 1979, (hereinafter referred to as "the Service Regulations").

4. The respondents have joined the service of the appellant Bank on diverse dates. They, indisputably, have served the Bank for more than 10 years. They opted for the Pension Regulations as and when the same were framed and sought for voluntary retirement from services in 2001. The said offer of retirement has been accepted.

5. The representation of the respondents that their entire period of service, including the period of leave availed by them on loss of pay, should be taken into consideration for the purpose of computing the pensionary benefits, having been rejected by the Bank by its orders dated 16-8-2001 and 17-8-2001, se