D.Basu, J. - (1.) Common questions of law have been raised by these two petitions brought by two employees of the Durgapur Steel Plant appertaining to the Hindusthan Steel Ltd.
(2.) In C. R. 1330, the Petitioner was the General Manager, who was appointed on 9-4-65 by the order of the President of India, which is at Annexure A, The Petitioner alleges that in the first week of July. 1967, he was verbally asked to resign by Sri Rao, Chairman of the Hindusthan Steel Ltd., (Respondent No. 4). On the 17th July, he was handed over the impugned letter at Ann. B, by the Chairman. This letter states that- (a) Government "have decided to terminate your services ......... with effect from the forenoon of the 19th July, 1967"; (b) The Petitioner had, however, the option of submitting resignation, which would be readily granted; (c) The Petitioner might also terminate the contract with the Hindusthan Steel by sending a notice with a leave application before the 19th July, in which case he would be granted all the leave that was due to him and thereafter his services would stand terminated on the expiry of that leave or on the expiry of three months from 19-7-68, whichever was later.
(3.) The Petitioner was asked to intimate his option as to the three alternatives aforesaid, and was also told that the Relieving Officer would take over charge from the Petitioner on 19-7-68 and at that time deliver to the Petitioner the formal order of the President. The Petitioner came to Court the next day and obtained this Rule, challenging the validity of the impugned letter.;