JUDGMENT

VENKATACHALIAH, J.:— This Writ Petition under Article 32 of the Constitution of India raises the question of the validity of Regulation 7 read with Schedule I of State Bank of Patiala. (Officer) Service Regulations, 1979 ("Regulations" for short) pertaining to the placement and fitment of existing officers 32 in the service of the State Bank of Patiala in the new grades and scales of pay.

2. In the year 1959, all "State Banks"- State Bank of Patiala was one of them - were made subsidiaries of the State Bank of India under the State Bank of India (Subsidiary Banks) Act 1959. Section 63 of this Act provided:

"63. Power of the State Bank to make regulations :-

(1) The State Bank may, with the approval of the Reserve Bank, make in respect of a subsidiary bank regulations, not inconsistent with this Act and the rules made thereunder, to provide for all matters for which provision is necessary or expedient for the purpose of giving effect to the provisions of this Act.

(2) In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, and regulations may provide for

(a) to (1) ... .... Omitted as unnecessary

(m) the conditions and limitations, subject to which the subs