( 1 ) WHAT is the age of superannuation applicable to the employees of respondent-karnataka land army corporation is the moot question that falls for determination in this batch of writ petitions. Most of the petitioners were working as task force commanders while one each out of them was working as a tracer, a second division clerk, an attender and an assistant task force commander. Each one of the petitioners appears to have received an endorsement from the respondent-corporation intimating to them that they will superannuate from the service of the corporation with effect from the date they attained the age of 55 years. The petitioners contend that the endorsement issued to them are illegal as the age of superannuation applicable to the employees of the corporation is 58 years and not 55 years, as suggested by the respondent. They have therefore assailed the endorsements and prayed for a mandamus directing the corporation to continue them in service till such time they attain the age of 58 years.

( 2 ) LEARNED counsel appearing for petitioners argued that even though the respondent-corporation has framed what are known as "karnataka land army corporation ser