JUDGMENT

Dr. AR. Lakshmanan, J.-Leave granted in Special Leave Petition No.6560 of 2001.

2. This group of writ petitions and appeals raise common questions of law relating to the abolition of contract system of labour. Writ Petition No. 433 of 1998 was filed by the All India Railway Parcel and Goods Porters Union praying for the following reliefs:

(a) Issue appropriate writ in the nature of mandamus or any other writ, direction or order commanding the respondents to treat the petitioners who are working as Parcel Porters as permanent employees of the Northern Railway as has been directed by this Hon ble Court in various petitions filed by the colleagues of the petitioners and a further direction may be given to abolish contract system in parcel handling work at different Railway Stations in Northern Railway and all the Parcel Porters working at different Railway Stations of Northern Railway may be treated as regular employees of the Railways;

(b) Issue an appropriate writ, direction or order commanding the respondents to treat the petitioners as employees of Northern Railway and give them the same benefits which have been given to other parcel porte