JUDGMENT

M.K. Mukherjee, J.-Special Leave granted. Heard the learned counsel for the parties.

2. At all material times the appellant was - and still is - an employee of the Savings Bank Control Organisation (SBCO), Uttar Pradesh Circle, under the Ministry of Communications, Department of Posts, New Delhi. In May, 1992 while working in the Agra Head Post Office he appeared in the examination held for appointment of Accountants in the Post Office (PO) and Railway Mail Services (RMS); and the Senior Superintendent of Post Offices, Agra Division, Agra vide his letter No. 82/Exam/PO and RMS/Accountant/92 dated November 30, 1992 informed him that he had qualified for that post. The appellant, however, did not get any appointment to the post of Accountant in spite of his such qualification and, on the contrary, on August 26, 1993, he received a copy of a letter dated July 23, 1993 sent by Shri A.K. Kaushal, an Assistant Director General in the office of the Director General (Posts), New Delhi, to Shri Jagadamba Singh, ADOS (Rectt). attached to the office of the Chief Post Master General, U.P. Circle, intimating him that as he (the appellant) was working in SBCO as an LDC (Lower Division Cle