JUDGMENT

H. R. KHANNA, J :— This judgment would dispose of civil appeals Nos. 600, 601, 877, 878 and 1699 to 1714 of 1975 which have been filed by special leave against the judgment of Gujarat High Court dismissing petitions under Article 226 of the Constitution of India filed by the appellants. The appellant in those petitions assailed the validity of Sections 53A and 53B of the Bombay Industrial Relations Act, 1946 (Bombay Act No. 1 of 1947) (hereinafter referred to as the principal Act). These sections along with some other provisions were inserted in the principal Act by the Bombay Industrial Relations and Industrial Disputes (Gujarat Amendment) Act, 1972 (Gujarat Act No. 21 of 1972). The appellants also challenged the validity of the rules which were added to the Bombay Industrial Relation (Gujarat) Rules, 1961 as per notification dated June 4, 1973. In addition to that, the appellants challenged the validity of notification dated December 17, 1973.

2. The principal Act was enacted to regulate the relations of employers and employees, to make provisions for settlement of industrial disputes and certain other purposes. In 1956 the industrial policy resolution of the Government o