1. The petitioner, who joined the State Bank of India as a Cashier, was promoted as Deputy Head Cashier in the year 1974. His next avenue of promotion post is Junior Management Grade, Scale I (Head Cashier). Under the policy in force of the bank, promotion to the post of Head Cashier is to be done by holding written examinations and viva voce tests. A clerical staff is given only three chances to qualify himself for promotion. The petitioner had exhausted two chances unsuccessfully. For availing the last and the third chance, he was allowed to sit for a written test in 1981 and later he was informed that he was successful in the written test. When the petitioner was making arrangements to proceed to Madras for the viva voce test (interview), he received a communication, dated 7 November 1981, from the branch M