R.P. Gupta, J.

1. The only question involved in this L.P.A. is whether he transfer order of the appellant by the respondent/bank from Bandakpur branch to Chandora branch as Asstt. Manager is mala fide or motivated order, punitive in nature and therefore, liable to be struck down.

2. The appellant is feeling aggrieved by order dated 9.2.98 of single bench of this Court whereby his writ petition No. 45/98 was dismissed with observations that the order 22.12.97 of his transfer from Bandakpur to Chandora, by the respondents, was purely an administrative matter. No counsel was present before the single bench on behalf of the petitioner at that time when the matter was fixed for hearing.

3. The admitted facts are that the petitioner has been working as officer of the respondent/bank since 9.4.84. He was an under trainee for first 2 years and thereafter he was posted as officer or branch manager at various branches of the bank as under-

(a) during 1984 to 1986 at various branches as under trainee,

(b) 1986 to 1989 as branch manager, Naogeon,

(c) 20.4.89 to 6.5.93 as branch manager at Kundalpur about 25 Kms. away from Damoh,

(d) 27.5.93 to 2.2.96 as branch manager at Lohati about 28 Kms. fro