JUDGMENT

Dhiraj Singh Thakur, CJ. - We propose to decide this batch of petitions by way of a common judgment and order in view of the fact that similar questions of fact and law arise in this set of cases. For purposes of reference, facts as contained in W.P. No.4861 of 2018 shall be referred to.

2. The petitioners all were employees of the Prakasam District Cooperative Central Bank Limited, who retired at the age of 58 years having attained the age of superannuation and retired by the year 2017. The case of the petitioners is that they ought to have been retired on attaining the age of 60 years. With a view to support this fact, the petitioners stated that the Andhra Pradesh Legislature enacted the Andhra Pradesh Public Employment (Regulation of Age of Superannuation) (Amendment) Act, 2014, (for short, 'Act No.4 of 2014') whereby in Section 3(1), the following sub-section was substituted.

'(1) Every Government employee shall retire from service on the afternoon of the last day of the month in which he attains the age of sixty years.'

3. It would not be out of place to reproduce hereinbelow the definition of 'Government employee' under the Andhra Pradesh Public Employment (Regulation o