Judgment

S.P. Kurdukar, J.-This appeal by Special Leave is filed by the appel­lants challenging the correctness of the judgment and order dated 13.3.1997 passed in O.A. No. 1045 of 1995 by the Central Administra­tive Tribunal (for short ‘CAT’) Calcutta.

2. The respondents who are 20 in number filed O.A. No. 1045 of 1995 before the Central Administrative Tribunal. Calcutta alleging inter alia that they have been working as labourers since 1988 till date continuously and uninterruptedly in the printing press of the Eastern Railway at Calcutta. They were engaged as labourers through a contrac­tor viz., M/s. Bandel Handling Porters Cooperative Society Ltd. Sever­al labourers were also engaged by different organizations/labour contractors for doing the work on several development projects under­taken by the Eastern Railway on contract basis. The contracts were entered into between the said co-operative societies and the authori­ties of the Eastern Railway. The respondents have been performing their duties and the functions to the satisfaction of the appellants and no complaint of whatsoever nature was made against their work. They were initially paid daily wages @ Rs. 14/- per day which c