Judgment

MITTER, J.:- These two appeals by special leave arise but of an award of the Industrial Tribunal, Allahabad following two references dated 24th January, 1962 by the State of U. P. under Section 4-K of the U. P. Industrial Disputes Act. 1947. The subject matter of both the references was, whether the employers (the appellants before this Court) should be required to pay bonus to their workmen for the year 1960-61, and if so, at what rate?

2. The U. P. Electric Supply Co., Ltd. (the appellants herein) had two electricity undertakings, one at Allahabad and the other at Lucknow. It carried on the business of generation and distribution of electricity under two licences one for Allahabad and the other for Lucknow within the areas specified therein. In pursuance of the provisions of paragraph 12 of the said licences the U. P. Electricity Board compulsorily acquired the said undertakings of the company including the business of generation and distribution of electricity in the areas covered by the licences with effect from 16th September, 1964. The Tribunal had however entered on the reference on 29th January 1962 and its proceedings continued down to 16th November 1965 when a comm