Judgment

G.P. Mathur, J.—This appeal, by special leave, has been preferred against the judgment and order dated 19.6.2000 of the Bombay High Court by which the Letters Patent Appeal filed by ANZ Grindlays Bank Limited (hereinafter referred to as the ‘Bank’) was dismissed and the order dated 29.2.2000, passed by the learned single Judge dismissing the writ petition filed by the Bank, was affirmed. The present appeal has been filed by ANZ Grindlays Bank Limited and the respondents arrayed in the appeal are (1) Union of India, (2) All India Grindlays Bank Employees Federation, and (3) All India Grindlays Bank Employees Association. During the pendency of the appeal in this Court the entire share capital of ANZ Grindlays Bank Limited has been acquired by Standard Chartered Bank Limited and consequently an application (I.A.No. 3 of 2000) has been moved to change the name of the appellant from ANZ Grindlays Bank Limited to Standard Chartered Grindlays Bank Limited, which has been allowed.

2. The Bank has branches all over the country and employs approximately 1666 personnel commonly known as Award Staff in its branches/offices in India. The All India Grindlays Bank Employees Association (t