JUDGMENT

BHAGWATI, J. :—The issue of Indian Express dated 26th August 1982 carried a news item that a large number of migrant workmen from different States including the State of Orissa were working on the Salal Hydro Electric Project in difficult conditions and they were denied the benefits of various labour laws and were subjected to exploitation by the contractors to whom different portions of the work were entrusted by the Central Government. The Peoples Union for Democratic Rights thereupon addressed a letter to Mr. Justice D. A. Desai enclosing a copy of the news report and requesting him to treat the letter as a writ petition so that justice may be done to the poor labourers working in the Salal Hydro Electric Project. The letter was placed before a Bench of this Court and it was treated as a writ petition and by an order dated 10th Sept., 1982 this Court directed that the Union of India, the State of Orissa, the Labour Commissioner Orissa at New Delhi, the State of Jammu and Kashmir and the Labour Commissioner (J. & K.) should be shown as respondents to the writ petition and issued notice to the Union of India the State of Orissa and the Assistant Labour Commissioner, Oriss