Judgment :-

Surinder Singh Nijjar, J.

1. Leave granted in SLP(C) No.4619 of 2011.

2. This judgment will dispose of a group of appeals, details of which are given hereunder, as they raise only one question of law :

Proceedings before the Bombay High Court :-

3. Writ Petition No.2139 of 2007 titled as Mahant Pal Singh vs. Union of India dismissed in limine by the Division Bench on 7th September, 2009. Civil Appeal No.3933 of 2013 @ Special Leave Petition (C) No.4619 of 2011 titled as M.P.Singh vs. Union of India & Ors. has been filed challenging the aforesaid order of the Division Bench. Writ Petition No.2652 of 2007 titled as Jatya Pal Singh & Ors. vs. Union of India & Ors. was dismissed in limine by the Division Bench on 8th September, 2009 in view of the order dated 7th September, 2009 passed in Writ Petition No.2139 of 2007. The aforesaid order has been impugned by the appellants (writ petitioners in the High Court) Jatya Pal Singh & Ors. vs. Union of India & Ors. in C.A.No.2147 of 2010.

Proceedings in the Delhi High Court :-

4. Ten writ petitions were filed by the former employees of the Videsh Sanchar Nigam Limited (VSNL). The common question of law raised in all the appeals relates