JUDGMENT

Tushar Rao Gedela, J. (Oral)

[The proceeding has been conducted through Hybrid mode]

1. This is a writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, 1950, inter alia, seeking the following prayers:

"1. Direct the Respondent Bank to treat the Petitioner as pension optee, sanction pension and thereafter disburse pension to her w.e.f. October 2015 onwards in terms of the bipartite settlements/ joint notes dated 27.04.2010 and circulars of the respondent Bank supra;

2. And grant such further relief as may be deemed just and appropriate in the facts and circumstances of the case."

4. It is the case of the petitioner that the petitioner had joined the services of the New Bank of India as a Clerk on 14.09.1976. Subsequently, in the year 1993, the New Bank of India was merged with the Punjab National Bank vide the notification of the Reserve Bank of India on 04.09.1993. Sometime in the year 1995/1996, an option was offered to the confirmed employees of the Bank for joining the Pension Scheme.

5. At the initial stage, the petitioner had not opted for the said Scheme. However, subsequently, on various dates in 2010, namely, 16.08.2010, 26.08.2010 and 21.09.2010, the options were