The petitioner herein who has been employed in the Madurai Branch of State Bank of India from May 18, 1970 to February 28, 1971 with some short breaks, as temporary clerk-cum-typist, has in this writ petition, filed on October 15, 1984 sought a writ of mandamus directing the respondent-bank to reinstate him in service as clerk-cum-typist or in any other branches with continuity of service and for consequential relief. The termination of the services of the petitioner on February 28, 1971 is challenged on the ground that the employer had failed to comply with the mandatory provisions of Sec. 25-F of the Industrial Disputes Act rendering the termination invalid.

2. Though the respondent-bank in its counter has stated that the petitioner had worked only for 104 days and contended that the petitioner was not entitled to the protection of Sec. 25-F, in the light of the letters of appointment issued to the petitioner periodically between May 18, 1970 and January 29, 1971 which letters have been produced by the petitioner, it is clear that the petitioner had been employed for over 240 days in the 12 months period immediately preceding the date on which his employment was termin