1. - The petitioner, Tejbhan Singh, was appointed by the Assistant Engineer, Karauli, as a Work charged survey munshi, on Panchana Irrigation Project with headquarters at Karauli, vide office order, Ex. R/ l , dated, September 28, 1970. The appointment which was made in the first instance to last till February 28, 1971, appears to have been extended thereafter from time to time till the date on which the petitioner was retrenched. On August 30, 1974, the Executive Engineer, Irrigation, Sawai Madhopur (respondent 3 herein) passed on order, Ex. R/2, retrenching the petitioner in these terms :

In compliance with letter, DLC 5/5053 dated, 1.8.1974, from the Superintending Engineer, Irrigation Circle Jaipur, you will be retrenched from 30-9-1974 because survey munshi is no longer required in this division. You may treat this letter as the requisite one month's notice under rule 26(2), Rajasthan P.W.D.(B & R) including Gardens, Irrigation, Water Works and Ayurvedic Departments, Work- charged Employees Service Rules, 1964 and section 25-F, Industrial Disputes Act, 1947.

The petitioner has challenged the validity of the aforesaid order of retrenchment and filed the present writ peti