JUDGMENT

1. The petitioners in both the cases were employees of Patna Regional Development Authority (for short PRDA) which admittedly stood dissolved and merged with the Patna Municipal Corporation (for short the Corporation) with effect from 02.02.2007. This is also not in dispute that consequent upon merger with the Corporation all employees of PRDA became the employees of the Corporation. The employees of the Corporation are entitled to pensionary benefits under statutory Patna Municipal Corporation Officers and Servants Pension Rules, 1986 (for short the PMC Pension Rules), published in Bihar Gazettee on 20.03.1987. The PMC Pension Rules came into force with effect from 01.01.1986. The sole question, which these two writ applications involve is, as to whether the employees of erstwhile PRDA, who became the employees of the Corporation in the aforesaid manner, are entitled to benefits under the PMC Pension Rules for grant of monthly pension and family pension. As the issue involved in both the cases is common, they have been heard together and are being disposed of by the present common judgment and order.

2. It is noted at the outset that this question had earlier arisen before