( 1 ) THE petitioner is an officer in Middle Management Grade Scale-II in the establishment of Bank of Baroda. The validity of the disciplinary proceedings initiated against the petitioner. ultimately culminating in imposition of the penalty of reduction by three stages in time scale in Middle Management Grade scale-II with effect from 25-2-1989 at the hands of the Chairman and the managing Director of the Bank, who is the reviewing authority under regulation 18 of the Bank of Baroda Officer Employees (Discipline and Appeal) regulations, 1976, for short Dand A Regulations is assailed in the writ petition. The petitioner has also sought for declaration that the action of the respondents in recovering the Professional Qualification Allowance (PQA) for the period from 1-7-1989 as illegal and arbitrary and for a consequential direction to the respondents to continue the payment of PQA duly refunding the amounts already recovered.

( 2 ) THE petitioner joined the service of the Bank as clerk on 16-4-1964 and he was confirmed in that cadre with effect from 16-10-1964. The petitioner was subsequently promoted to Junior Management Grade Scale-I with effect from 1-5-1971. Fur