JUDGMENT

Rajendra Babu, J.-The appellant-Bank invited applications for the posts of Junior Clerks/Junior-Clerk-cum-Typist by means of an advertisement in "Indian Express" newspaper dated 24-5-96, in the then pay scales of Rs. 1450-2950, plus usual allowances. Similar advertisements were issued in two other daily newspapers also on 25-5-96. The last date was fixed for receipt of applications as 8.6.96. All these were done pursuant to the decision taken by the Board of Directors of the appellant-Bank. As many as 1565 applications were said to have been received and the private respondents who were writ petitioners before the High Court seem to be few among those applicants. The Board of Directors appears to have constituted a Committee to conduct the selection, consisting of (a) President of the appellant-Bank; (b) Managing Director of the appellant-Bank; (c) A Director of the appellant-Bank (Shri Harmohinder Singh); (d) A nominee of the Registrar of Co-operative Societies Punjab and (e) General Manager of the Punjab State Cooperative Bank Ltd. (Shri Sohan Singh - nominated member from the State Government). During the period from 19-12-1996 to 28-12-96, typing tests and interviews we