JUDGMENT

P. S. KAILASAM, J.:— These three appeals are filed by the Shivraj Fine Arts Litho Works, Vasant Fine Arts Litho Works and Shakti Offset Works by special leave granted by this Court against the decision of the Nagpur High Court. The history of the industrial dispute may be shortly stated.

2. The dispute relates to the Litho Industry in the Vidarbha region. An award known as the Puranik Award was made on October 26, 1956. The award fixed Rs. 35/- as the minimum wage but did not attach any scale of pay to the basic pay of Rs. 35/- for the unskilled employees. By a notice dated January 22, 1958 the employees of the Litho Industry gave notice of change and as result the Puranik award stood terminated as from July 22, 1958. The employees of Shivraj, Shakti and Raj gave notice of change dated September 2, 1960 making certain demands against their respective employers. On March 13, 1961 the employees of the said three Units filed three references under Section 38-A of the C. P. and Berar Industrial Disputes Settlement Act, 1947 before the State Industrial Court, which were numbered as references 9, 10 and 11 of 1961. When the three references were pending employees of other industr