1. The petitioner was appointed as Arm Guard in the UBI, Narayanpur Branch vide order dated 21.7.1988 issued by the Regional Manager of UBI and accordingly he joined on 5.8.1988 as Arm Guard. In due course of time, the petitioner was promoted to the rank of Cashier in the year 1991 by the competent authority of the Bank.

2. While the petitioner was serving in the aforesaid capacity as Cashier under the respondent Bank in the same branch and was posted in the Hatilung Branch in North Lakhimpur, the Bank floated a voluntary retirement scheme for Officers and other staffs, with a view to streamline the functioning of the Bank by increasing market competition and customer's expectation for initiating Bank's optimum productivity and profitability. The said scheme was titled as 'United Bank of India's Employees Voluntary Retirement Scheme, 2000'.

3. The relevant eligibility criteria for seeking benefit under the said scheme by an employee as provided under clause 4, 5 and 6 are quoted below :

"4 Eligibility. - (i) All permanent full time employees of the Bank will be eligible for seeking voluntary retirement under the Scheme provided they met the following eligibility criteria on the date o

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