1. The petitioner is an Assistant General Manager in Andhra Bank. He filed W.P. No. 23410 of 2005 (hereinafter referred to as 'the first writ petition') seeking to direct the respondents to treat his application for voluntary retirement as withdrawn, and consequently direct the respondents to continue him in service. While the first writ petition is pending before this Court, the petitioner filed W.P. No.16996 of 2007 assailing the proceedings dated 09.07.2004 accepting his application for voluntary retirement and retiring him from service and the consequential order dated 12.07.2004 relieving him from service.

2. The petitioner joined the respondents-Andhra Bank as Rural Credit Officer in MM- II Cadre on 13.05.1977. He was given promotions to the next higher posts from time to time. He worked at various branches/offices of the respondents within Andhra Pradesh and outside. While working as Assistant General Manager, the petitioner states that because of health reasons, he applied for voluntary retirement on 12.04.2004 to the respondents, with a request to accept his application and relieve him from service as per the rules in force, treating