Sanjeev Kumar, J.

1. In this batch of appeals filed by the Jammu & Kashmir Bank Limited, a common judgment of a learned Single Judge dated 27.09.2013 passed in a bunch of writ petitions has been called in question. Since identical questions of law and fact are involved in these appeals, as such, all appeals are disposed of by this common judgment.

2. An advertence to the factual antecedents leading up to the filing of these appeals would be advantageous to appreciate the controversy involved in proper perspective.

3. The respondents-workmen were engaged by the appellant-Bank as Armed Guards-cum-Night Watchmen on temporary basis on consolidated charges of Rs.2,000/- per month by order dated 04.04.2000 in almost all cases initially for a period of two months, somewhere in the year 2000. On completion of initial period of two months, their engagement appears to have been extended from time to time. However, in the year 2001, the engagement of the respondents-workmen which was initially made on temporary basis was converted into contractual subject to new terms and conditions. This contractual appointment made in the year 2001 was for a period of two years and later on extended