ORDER :- This writ petition relates to a service matter. The petitioner V. P. Misra of the Ex-War personnel was absorbed in the Watch and Ward on a post of clerk on 23-7-1947 by the then Superintendent, Watch and Ward. Eastern Railway. He was later confirmed with effect from 1-4-1956. His date of birth is July 12, 1910. He received an order, which is annexure 5 to the writ petition and is dated 1-3-1967, to the effect that in terms of Chief Security Officer letter dated 9-12-1967 he would retire with effect from 11-7-1968, afternoon. In other words, he was to retire on the attainment of the age of 58 years. The said communication purported to be from the Assistant Security Officer, Lucknow, though it was signed by the Head Clerk of the office for the Assistant Security Officer. The petitioner made a representation dated 4-3-1967 and also sent reminders on several sub-sequent dates, the 1st one being dated 15-12-1967, of which copy is annexure 6 to the writ petition. He got a reply (copy annexure 7 to the writ petition) dated 16-12-1967 "that the matter was under waiting and the final decision when arrived at will be intimated to him promptly."

He never received any communic