A SUBRAMANIAN Vs. PUNJAB NATIONAL BANK

JUDGEMENT

(1.) AFTER hearing the learned counsel for the appellant, the writ appeal is admitted. By consent of both parties, the writ appeal is taken up for final hearing.

(2.) THE writ appeal is directed against the order of M.S.Janarthanam, J., dated 29.1.1993 in W.P. No.5725 of 1984. The petitioner is the appellant.

(3.) THE short facts which are relevant for the disposal of the appeal are as follows: The appellant joined the 1st respondent - bank on 16.6.1975 as Assistant Agricultural Officer and at present he is working as Agricultural Officer in the zonal office of the 1st respondent at Madras. Originally, there were five categories of officers i.e., A, B, C, D and E, besides there being other categories of officers at senior level. During 1976, Grade E was abolished. Grades E and D generally consisted of technical officers. Pursuant to a settlement dated 23.6.1973, all sub Accountants were designated as Accountants and placed in Grade C. In exercise of the powers conferred under Sec. 19 read with Sec. 12 of the Banking Companies (Acquisition and Transfer of Undertaking) Act, 1970, the Board of Directors of the 1st respondent in consultation with the Reserve Bank of India and with the previous sanction of the Central Government, formulated the Punjab National Bank Officers, Service Regulations, 1979 (hereinafter referred to as the Regulations), which came into force on 1.7.1979, It inter alia provides four grades for officers and specified the scales of pay.