Ashok Bhushan, J.

1. These two appeals have been filed against the common judgment dated 27-7-2010 passed in two writ petitions, W.P. (C) Nos. 27863 of 2009 filed by the respondent herein, Sri K.P. Varghese and W.P. (C) No. 29137 of 2009 filed by the Life Insurance Corporation of India the appellants. For convenience the pleadings on record in W.A. No. 1823 of 2010 as well as W.P. (C) No. 29137 of 2009 shall be referred to. The brief facts giving rise to both these writ petitions are:

The 3rd respondent to the appeals is a Co-operative Bank registered under the Kerala Co-operative Societies Act, 1969. The respondent, Sri K.P. Varghese was one of the employees of the Bank who was appointed on 1-8-1977. The Adhyapaka Co-operative Bank, 3rd respondent, shall hereinafter be referred to as 'the Bank'. The Bank applied for and obtained a master policy for group gratuity insurance scheme from the LIC, which hereinafter shall be referred to as the Corporation, for the eligible employees of the Adhyapaka Co-operative Bank Limited. The particulars of employees eligible to join the scheme were submitted along with the proposal for assurance for the life of the employees. The Corporation