i) The deemed date of absorption of the petitioners fixed as 1.10.2000, is held to be illegal, being contrary to Rule 37-A (4) of CCS (Pension) Rules;

ii) The deemed date of permanent absorption of such of the petitioners who seek permanent absorption in BSNL/MTNL shall be 8.12.2005;

iii) The petitioners before this Court are given an option, to be exercised within two weeks from the date of this order, to revert to the Government or to seek permanent absorption in BSNL/MTNL as the case may be;

iv) Those Government servants who have already accepted permanent absorption w.e.f. 1.10.2000 will not be entitled to exercise a fresh option in terms of this order;

v) BSNL/MTNL shall relieve such of the petitioners, who opt to revert to Government service within 2 weeks of receipt of options from them;

vi) Such of the petitioners who opt to revert to the Government shall be appropriately redeployed by the Government in Government service through surplus cell of the Government. We have no doubt in our mind that the Government would not like to keep such of the petitioners who opt to revert to the Government idle and, subject to availability of the positions with it, give them such work as is deemed appropriate to be performed by them.