( 1 ) THE parties herein have pursued a long drawn and tortuous litigative saga in respect of disciplinary proceedings against the petitioner s conduct while working as a Manager in Kamalanagar branch (Karnataka State) of the respondent- bank - the State Bank of Hyderabad.

( 2 ) THE petitioner initially joined service in the respondent-bank as a clerk in 1963. He was promoted to the category of officer Grade II and thereafter as Manager in the years 1973 and 1975, respectively. As manager he was transferred to Kamalanagar branch and joined duty in the Branch in july, 1975. He was relieved on 16-9-1976 to undergo training at Trivandrum. On the basis of a complaint dated 17-9-1976, from a customer of the Bank at Kamalanagar branch, by the letter dated 5-10-1976 the petitioner was called upon to show-cause and submit his comments on the complaint dated 17-9-1976. He was also placed under suspension by the order dated 9-10-1976. A charge-sheet was issued to him by the proceedings dated 8-12-1976 enumerating 8 charges. The petitioner submitted his explanation dated 24-1-1977.

( 3 ) WITHOUT conducting any enquiry the bank issued a notice dated 30-4-1977 proposing the pet