M.Y. Eqbal, J.

1. Petitioners have challenged the Circular dated 31st October, 201 issued under the signature of General Manager (P) of respondent No. 1 Metallurgical and Engineering Consultants (India) Ltd. |in short MECON], whereby the age of superannuation in respect of all categories of its employees i.e. Board level employees and below Board level employees has been reduced from 60 years to 58 years. Petitioners also seek declaration that the aforesaid circular reducing the superannuation age is wholly illegal, arbitrary and without jurisdiction.

2. Petitioners case is that they were appointed by the erstwhile Hindustan Steel Limited (in short HSL), a Government of India Undertakings and a company incorporated under the Companies Act consists of its units as Bhilai Steel Plant, Rourkella Steel Plant and Durgapur Steel Plant. In 1973. Government of India pursuant to its policy decision formed a new company, namely, Steel Authority of India Ltd. and it was made the holding company for the Central Government Companies functioning in the Steel Sector. A new company known as Metallurgical and Engineering Consultants (India) Ltd. (in short MECON) also came into existence durin