When a charge control is applied to a clutch during a shifting operation of an automatic transmission, a charge counter of this clutch is set to a predetermined value. When a drain control is applied to the clutch, the charge counter is counted down. In response to renewal of requested gear position during the shifting operation, a judgment is made as to whether the state of charge is clear with respect to hydraulic fluid supplied to the clutch (i.e. to-be-newly-charged clutch) before the charge control is applied to this clutch for establishing a renewed requested gear position. When the charge counter of this clutch is currently counted down, it is decided that the charged condition of hydraulic fluid supplied to the clutch is unclear. Thus, a multi-stage gear shifting control (i.e. replacement or renewal of target gear position) is prohibited, thereby suppressing generation of shift shock.