Judgment

VAIDIALINGAM J.:- This appeal, by special leave, is directed against the judgment and order dated the 10th September, 1968, of the Division Bench of the High Court of Punjab and Haryana in L. P. A. No. 108 of l966, confirming the order of the learned single judge and holding that the order of the State Government dated the 5th March, 1962, referring a dispute for adjudication was incompetent.

2. The respondent company dismissed three of its workmen between the l5th December, 1959 and 6th January, 1980 and it also retrenched another employee on the 7th February, 1960. The District Motor Transport Workers Union appears to have raised a dispute with the management on the 17th November, l960 and demanded the reinstatement of the dismissed workmen as well as the payment of retrenchment compensation regarding the workmen who were retrenched. The demand not having been met with by the management and conciliation having failed, the State Government was approached for making a reference of the dispute for adjudication.. On the 9th June, 1960 the State Government declined to make a reference. A further attempt was made to persuade the State Government by the workmen concerned to make