( 1 ) ALL the three writ petitions raise common questions of law and hence they are disposed of by a common order.

( 2 ) IN these writ petitions, constitutional validity of Section 78-B (i) of A. P. Education Act, 1982 and Rule 2 Part a of the A. P. Aided Degree Oriental and Junior Colleges Staff Pension Rules, 1993 issued in G. O. Ms. No. 2, Education (CE-II) Department, dated 5-1-1994 are assailed and sought for consequential direction to fix the pension/family pension of the petitioners by applying A. P. Revised Pension Rules, 1980 with effect from the dates of their respective retirements.

( 3 ) WRIT Petition No. 8722/1996 was filed by the Affiliated College Teachers Association and Teachers working in the Private Aided Colleges. The widow of the deceased pensioner is also one of the petitioners. The petitioners worked in various private aided colleges and they retired from service on attaining the age of 58 years. It is necessary to trace the previous events for the introduction of pension scheme to the Teachers. The Government in G. O. Ms. No. 3372, dated 31-10-1961 issued rules called A. P. Teachers Contributory Provident Fund-cum-Pension and Gratuity Rul