G.T. Nanavati, J. -- 1. Appellant 2, Dayal Dass Khanna, joined the Allahabad Bank (Respondent 1) as a Clerk on 24.7.1946. He was promoted as an Officer on 15.9.1967 and his further promotions from Scale I to Scale II and from Scale II to Scale III in the Officer's Cadre were on 1.7.1976 and 1.10.1977 respectively. On- 15.8.1979 he was elected as a General Secretary of the Allahabad Bank Officers) Association (Appellant 1), a registered trade union duly recognised by the Bank. In November 1982 he was considered for further promotion from Scale III to Scale IV but was denied promotion because he was found lacking in potential. In March 1984 a Special Committee was constitued under Regulation 19 of the Allahabad Bank (Officers) Service Regulations, 1979 to review the cases of 20 Officers, including Appellant 2, for recommending whether they should be retired earlier or allowed to serve till the age of superannuation. The committee unanimously recommended compulsory retirement of Appellant 2 and the Chairman and Managing Director of the Bank agreeing with; the Said' recommendation passed an order on 18.5.1984 for compulsorily retiring Appellant 2. By an order of the same date