JUDGMENT :

1. Heard Mr. P.K. Roy, the learned Advocate for the appellant and Mr. D. Baruah, the learned advocate for the respondent Nos. 2 and 3.

2. The appellant is the plaintiff in Title Suit No. 220/2001. The said suit was filed for realizing a sum of Rs. 63,56,750 as damages and compensation on the alleging that the appellant was illegally and mala fide terminated from service.

3. The brief background of the present litigation is as follows:

(a) That vide appointment letter dated 8.9.1967 (Ext. 1), the appellant was initially employed in Mumbai as Medical Serviceman by erstwhile Parke Davis (India) Ltd. (respondent-defendant No. 1). Accordingly, the appellant joined his service on 18.7.1967. The said respondent No. 1-Company is since merged with Pfizer Ltd. (respondent No. 2). The service of the appellant was confirmed as a permanent staff by the respondent No. 1 vide letter dated 9.1.1969 (Ext. 2). By letter dated 19.12.1983 (Ext. 3), the appellant was promoted as Field Manager w.e.f. 1.12.1983 by the respondent No. 1 with his Head Quarter at Ranchi. After about 3 years, the appellant was transferred to Guwahati.

(b) Thereafter, vide letter dated 29.12.1997, the other staffs were c