RAJU, J.

The above appeals and the Writ Petitions have been at the common request of the learned counsel appearing on either side, heard together since not only the parties to the proceedings are one and the same, but the legal issues involved for consideration are also identical and similar.

2. Writ Appeal No. 108/1998 has been filed against the interim orders passed by a learned single Judge of this Court dated November 19, 1997 in W.M.P. Nos. 19444/1996 and 9505/1997 in W.P. No. 14251/1996, wherein the learned single Judge was pleased to vacate the interim order earlier granted on the ground that there was no reason or justification to prevent the Bank from recruiting directly employees pursuant to the advertisements, which was challaned in the main Writ Petition W.P. No. 14251 of 1996. In W.P. No. 14251/1996, the All India Bharat Overseas Bank Employees' Union (hereinafter referred to as 'the employees Union') have sought for the issue of a Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondents-Bharat Overseas Bank represented by the Chairman and Chief Executive (hereinafter referred to as 'the Bank Management') not to fill up vacancies of clerical cadre by direct recruitment pu