(1) MR G. Ramaswamy, learned Additional Solicitor General appearing for the respondents draws our attention to the order passed by this court in Saital Singh v. Union of India and states that the Union of India is prepared to abide by the terms of the order. He also submits that the direction contained in the order of this court dated 10/03/1986 in this case while issuing a rule nisi for payment of salary to the employees covered by the writ petition at the same rate as salaried bearers of the Railway Catering Establishment w.e.f. 1/12/1983 needs modification with regard to the date from which the salary and other emoluments are payable to them upon absorption.

(2) WE accordingly direct that all persons working as commission bearers and vendors on various railway platforms belonging to the central Railway and the South central Railway would be absorbed progressively as members of the permanent Railway Catering Service as per the terms of paragraph 3 of the Memorandum No. 76 TG 111/639/11 dated December 13, 1976 issued by the Joint Director, Traffic Commercial (C) II, Railway Board, New Delhi, as and when vacancies to the posts of bearers in the Railway Catering Serv