Judgment

CHANDRACHUD, J. :- The 1st respondent is a co-operative transport society carrying on transport business at Kaithal, District Karnal, State of Haryana. The Society terminated the services of respondents 3 and 4 who were working with it as conductor and driver, respectively. The State of Punjab, on June 22, 1964, referred the dispute arising out of the dismissal of respondents 3 and 4, under Sec. 10 of the Industrial Disputes Act (14 of 1947) for the adjucdication of the Labour Court, Rohtak. That Court was then presided over by Shri Jawala Dass. On shri Dasss retirement, Shri Hans Raj Gupta was appointed on June 4, 1965, as the Presiding Officer of the Court. The reference was thereafter heard by him and on April 16, 1966 he gave an award directing the reinstatement of respondents 3 and 4 with 50% back-wages from the date of their dismissal until the date of reinstatement. The Presiding Officer of the Labour Court is the 2nd responednt to this appeal.

2. Being aggrieved by the award, the 1st respondent filed Writ Petition No. 1575 of 1966 in the High Court of Punjab and Haryana under Arts. 226 and 227 of the Constitution, praying that the award given by the 2nd respondent be