Judgment

SATYANARAYANA RAJU, J. : This appeal, on certificate granted by the High Court of Punjab, arises out of a suit filed by one Ram Prasad, against the State of Punjab, for a declaration that the order of compulsory retirement passed by the latter against him was invalid.

2. Ram Prasad originally entered service as a Clerk, in the year 1924, in the Patiala Saddar Treasury in what was then the Patiala State. He was subsequently transferred in the same capacity to the Patiala State Bank on February 27, 1984 Bk. and was confirmed in his appointment. On September 1, 1985 Bk., he was promoted to the next higher grade on the establishment of the Patiala State Bank. Thereafter, he was promoted as Manager and posted to the Bhatinda Branch of the Bank on April 1, 1944. On April 1, 1949 he was promoted as Selection Grade Manager by the Board of Directors of the Bank in the grade of Rs. 340-20-500-525-700. On September 23, 1953 he was compulsorily retired from service but was subsequently reinstated by the Government on June 10, 1954 since the order was legally defective. On June 11, 1958 the Board passed an order compulsorily retiring him from service.

3. Ram Prasad challenged the order of