JUDGMENT

Raju, J.-The above appeals have been filed against the common judgment of a Division Bench of the Karnataka High Court dated 4.12.97 in Writ Petition Nos. 7771 of 1986, 321 of 1987 and 19366 of 1985 and they are by M/s. Indian Overseas Bank, Canara Bank and Vijaya Bank respectively.

2. The respective Banks had their own regulations for regulating the conduct, discipline and appeals pertaining to their officers and employees. Those Regulations contained a provision enabling an officer/employee to take the assistance of any other officer-employee to defend him in any disciplinary proceedings. This was sought to be amended by a circular order providing for the addition of a note to the relevant regulation in the following terms :

Note : The officer employee shall not take the assistance of any other employee who has two pending disciplinary cases on hand in which he has to give assistance.

3. This move was said to have been triggered by the communication of the Government of India dated 5.12.84, issued from the Ministry of Finance, Department of Economic Affairs (Banking Division), on the basis of the suggestion emanating from the Central Vigilance Commission and in consultation