Judgment

GAJNENDRAGADKAR, J. : This appeal by special leave arises out of an industrial dispute between M/s. Dalmia Cement (Bharat) Ltd., (hereinafter called the appellant) and its workmen (hereinafter called the respondents) which was referred for adjudication to the industrial tribunal. The dispute related to several items of claim made by the respondents but in the present appeal we are concerned only with one of them; that is the respondents claim for gratuity. The tribunal considered the objections raised by the appellant against the scheme of gratuity which was then in force and held that there was no substance in them. Certain alterations were suggested by the respondents in the said scheme some of which were accepted by the tribunal. In the result an award was made directing appropriate revision of the scheme of gratuity. Against this award the appellant preferred an appeal, and on its behalf the same contentions were raised and with the same result. The appellate tribunal saw no reason to interfere with the award made by the tribunal. It is against this part of the award that the present appeal has been preferred.

2. It appears that two modifications were suggested by the a