John Mathew, J. -

1. The Judgment of the Court was delivered by John Mathew, J.- What is the fees payable to an Advocate whose engagement is terminated by the client before the disposal of the litigation? This question arises in these petitions filed by the 1st respondent in these appeals. These appeals arise from two suits filed by the 1st respondent, namely, State Bank of India. The erstwhile Bank of Cochin Ltd. was amalgamated with the State Bank of India in 1985. Even so the State Bank of India continued to engage the standing counsel for the Bank of Cochin Ltd. for conducting the suits and other proceedings relating to the dealings of the Bank of Cochin Ltd. The suits from which these appeals arose were two such proceedings. It is said that there are other suits, execution, etc., in which the Advocate of the erstwhile Bank of Cochin Ltd. is being engaged. These two suits, namely, O.S. No. 118 of 1984 and O.S.No. 153 of 1984 of the Sub Court, Cochin, in which the State Bank of India was the plaintiff were decreed by the Trial Court. A.S. No. 523 of 1991 is the appeal filed by defendants 5 and 6 in O.S. No. 153 of 1984 and A.S. No. 545 of 1991 is the appeal filed by defen