JUDGMENT

Arijit Pasayat, J.-Delay condoned.

Leave granted.

2. The pivotal issue involved in this appeal relates to the question as to whether the employees working with Primary Agricultural Cooperative Banks (in short Primary Banks ) are entitled to bonus at the same rate at which it was paid to employees working in the Apex Bank (also described as State Bank ) i.e. The Haryana State Cooperative Land Development Bank Limited. The Apex Bank is governed by the Haryana Cooperative Society Act, 1984 (in short the Act ). The appellant transacts its business mainly through Primary Banks which are its members. The members of the Apex Bank belonging to the area of operation of the particular Primary Bank automatically become members of the concerned Primary Bank from the date of registration. Staff of the Primary Banks except class IV employees are drawn from the Apex Bank out of the cadre maintained by it in terms of clause 70 of the model by-laws applicable to the Primary Banks. The respondent No. 1- union raised a demand stating that it is entitled to bonus at the rate applicable to employees of the Apex Bank. The claim was resisted by the Primary Banks on the ground that they are separ