JUDGMENT

S.N. Variava, J.-Leave granted in SLP (C) No. 9000/1998.

2. All these Appeals are against a common judgment dated 30th March, 1997. A common question arises in all these Appeals.

3. The Government of India, Ministry of Labour by an Order dated 3rd October, 1980 referred the following dispute under Sections 7A and 10(1)(d) of the Industrial Disputes Act between the Management of 11 Banks and the Deposit Collectors to the Industrial Tribunal, Hyderabad for adjudication :

"Whether the demands of the Commission Agents or as the case may be Deposit Collectors employed in the Banks listed in the Annexure that they are entitled to pay scales, allowances and other service conditions available to regular

clerical employees of those banks is justified ? If not, to what relief are the workmen concerned entitled and from which date ?"

4. Before the Tribunal parties lead evidence both oral and documentary. After hearing the parties the Tribunal by its Award dated 22nd December, 1998 held that the Deposit Collectors were workmen of the concerned Bank. The Tribunal then directed as follows :

"All those Deposit Collectors and Agents who are below the age of 45 years on 3.10.1980 (the date