JUDGMENT

K.G. Balakrishnan, J.-Leave granted.

2. In all these appeals, common questions of law arise for consideration and hence they are being disposed of by a common Judgment. In one set of appeals, the Union of India is the appellant and in another set of appeals, Lt. Governor (Andaman & Nicobar Islands) is the appellant. The matter relates to the grant of temporary status to the casual workers working in some of the departments of the appellants. The Department of Personnel and Training of the Government of India formulated a scheme for the grant of temporary status and regularisation of the services of casual labourers working in the various departments under the Government of India. The Scheme came into effect from 1.9.1993. Clause 3 of the Scheme stated that it would apply to all casual labourers in employment of the Ministries/Departments of Government of India of their attached and subordinating officers, and that this Scheme may not apply to Railways and Telecommunications Departments. The Scheme envisaged conferring of Temporary status on all casual labourers who had worked for at least 240 days in a year (206 days in the case of offices observing 5 days a week). The