JUDGMENT

Kirpal, J.-Leave granted.

2. The award of the National Industrial Tribunal, Bombay (hereinafter referred to as the Tribunal ) adjudicating on the demands of the unions of five Bangalore based public sector undertakings for parity in minimum wage with the minimum wage payable to the employees of another public sector undertaking namely; Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (hereinafter referred to as BHEL ) is challenged by the managements as well as the workmen in these appeals.

3. The minimum wage of the lowest category of workmen of five Bangalore based public sector undertakings namely; Bharat Electronics Limited (hereinafter referred to as B.E.L. ), Bharat Earth Movers Limited (hereinafter referred to as B.E.M.L. ), Indian Telephone Industries Limited (hereinafter referred to as I.T.I. ) , Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (hereinafter referred to as H.A.L. ) and Hindustan Machine Tools Limited (hereinafter referred to as H.M.T. ) was the same in all these public sector undertakings. By settlements entered into various dates in 1974 between the managements and the workmen of these five undertakings except I.T.I., the minimum wage of the lowest category of workmen was f