JUDGMENT

C.K. THAKKER, J. - Leave granted.

2. All these appeals arise out of common judgment and order passed by the Division Bench of the High Court of Madhya Pradesh (Indore Bench) on October 31, 2006 in Writ Appeal No. 353 of 2006 and companion matters and also against an order dated December 11, 2006 in Review Petition M.C.C. No. 1062 of 2006 and cognate matters. The orders passed by the Division Bench of the High Court have been challenged by both the parties i.e. employees/ workmen as also by the employer/Company.

FACTUAL BACKGROUND

3. To appreciate the controversy raised in the present appeals, few relevant facts may be noted.

4. Vikram Cement (`Company for short) is engaged in the business of manufacturing cement of different grades and has its plant at Vikram Nagar, Khor, Madhya Pradesh. Appellants in one set of appeals are employees engaged and working in the factory of the Company. It was the case of the Company that with a view to rationalize its manpower, it introduced a Voluntary Retirement Scheme (`the Scheme for short) on July 12, 2001 in the Cement Plant. The said scheme provided voluntary retirement of workmen who had either completed 40 years of age or put in at le