Judgment

VAIDIALINGAM, J.: This appeal by special leave by the Vizagapatnam Dock Labour Board (hereinafter referred to as the Board), is directed against the award, dated May 24, 1968 of the Industrial Tribunal, Andhra Pradesh, Hyderabad, in I. D. No. 10 of 1967 holding that the appellant should pay the Dock workers employed at Vizagapatnam Port bonus for the accounting years 1964-65, 1965-66 and 1966-67.

2. The Central Govt., by its order dated April 13, 1967, referred for adjudication to the said Tribunal the question whether the demand for payment of bonus to Dock Labour Board Workers employed at Visakhapatnam Port for the accounting years 1964-65, 1965-66 and 1966-67 was justified and, if so, at what rate should such bonus be paid. The parties to the Reference included the Board, the Visakhapatnam Stevedores Association, certain individual Stevedores and two. Unions representing workers. The two Unions were the Port Khalasis Union and the Dock Workers Union.

3. Both the Unions filed statements of claim on behalf of their workmen. They referred to the demands made by them for payment of bonus and the rejection thereof by the Board and the Stevedores Association. They referred to ce