SOUMITRA PAL, J.

(1.) The instant appeal arises out of a judgment and order dated 27th March. 2002 passed by a learned singe Judge in W. P. No. 948 of 2000 affirming the award dated 20th December, 1999 passed by the Central Government Industrial Tribunal at Calcutta in Tribunal Reference Case No. 14/1991.

(2.) The facts as stared by the appellant are that we respondent No.3 Chhabi Ghosh ("respondent" for short) was iratially appointed and thereafter, confirmed as a clerical .staff on 26th July, 1969 by the then Mercantile Bank Ltd. now known as the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation. Pursuant to an agreement dated 16th June, 1978 entered into by Mercantile Bank Ltd. and the said respondent, the said respondent was promoted as Staff Officer, Grade-I (Junior). The two grades of staff officers that is Grade-I (Junior) and Grade-II (Senior) were merged with effect from 1st of July, 1984, thereby bestowing the powers and duties exercised by Grade II staff officers on Grade-I staff officers also. The said respondent was in the grade of 1 300-7 725 (basic) and was drawing at the rate of Rs.3419/- per month as basic salary besides other allowances. It has been stated that