BIREN VAISHNAV, J.

1. Pension is not a ‘bounty’. Several rounds of litigation, though have concluded the issue on hand, present respondents - Senior Citizens who have rendered selfless service in the academic field as members of the teaching and non-teaching staff have been deprived of their right of earning pension. Though, unequivocally held by catena of decisions of the Apex Court as well as this Court, which this judgment only reiterates, respondents – original petitioners have had no option other than to be compelled to litigate for their rights because the State which is considered as a model employer still resists their claim for pension on the ground that such members had not exercised their options for pension.

2. In these batches of appeals before us, judgments rendered in four separate batches of petitions filed by the original petitioners – teaching/non teaching staff of different educational institutions are under challenge before us. They are :

(I) Letters Patent Appeals No. 258 of 2017, 811 of 2017 and 1357 of 2017 arising out of a judgment rendered by a