Judgment

GHULAM HASAN, J.: These consolidated appeals by the three appellants arise out of the judgment and order of the High Court of Judicature at Bombay (Bavdekar and Dixit, JJ.), where by the High Court confirmed the convictions of the appellants recorded by the Presidency Magistrate. Fifth Court, Greator Bombay, under Section 27 of the Industrial Disputes (Appellate Tribunal) Act (No. XI. VIII) of1950) but reduced their sentences from six months rigorous imprisonment to three month s simple imprisonment and set aside against each of the appellant the sentence of fine of Rs. 1,000. The appellants are the President and the Secretaries of the Mill Mazdoor Sabba, a Union of Textile Workers in Bombay registered under the Indian Trade Union Act.

It appears that there are about 2,10,000 Textile workers working in Bombay and about 35 per cent, of them belong to three different labour Unions. The first is called Rashtriya Mill Mazdoor Sangh which is recognized as a representative Union under the Bombay Industrial Relations Act, 1946, on the ground that it represents not less than 15 per cent of such Textile workers. The second is called the Mill Mazdoor Sabha , of which the appella