Heard Mr. M.K. Choudhury, learned senior counsel, appearing for the petitioners. Also heard Mr. S. Barua, learned standing counsel, Finance Department, appearing for the respondent No. 2; Mr. R. Newar, learned State counsel, appearing for the respondent Nos. 1 and 4 and Mr. A. Chetri, and Mr. M.P. Sarma, learned counsel, appearing for the respondent No. 3.

2. The writ petitioner No. 1 is a Committee formed by the officers, employees and teachers of the State Government who retired from service from 2006 onwards at the age of 59 years and from November 2007 at the age of 60 years. The Committee has a strength of about 2,500 members. Initially, the Committee was known as Retired Employees Committee and after registration under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, the Committee is now known as All Assam Retired Officers, Teachers and Employees Committee. The petitioner Nos. 2 and 3 are the President and General Secretary of the Committee, respectively.

3. The grievance, primarily expressed by the writ petitioners, is in relation to the decision of the government to give only notional benefit of enhanced revised pay structure with effect from 01.01.2006 and not the arrears of