Judgment

SANTOSH HEGDE, J.

( 1 ) THOUGH the cause-title of the appeal shows two civil appeal numbers, we are informed that in reality there is only one appeal challenging the judgment of the High court of judicature at Madras which arose from a single industrial dispute before the principal Labour Court, Madras, hence, even though two civil appeal numbers are given in the cause-title, we treat it as a single appeal against the said judgment of the high Court of Madras. The facts necessary for the disposal of this appeal are as follows :

( 2 ) THE appellant before us was a trading agency being managed under the name and style of gordon Woodrofe Agencies p. Ltd. at the then Madras now known as chennai. Said company came to be closed w. e. f. 31. 5. 1984 because it had incurred heavy losses in its business. At that time the appellant had less than 50 workmen. It is also the case of the appellant that the closure being genuine, it offered to all its workmen, closure compensation as prescribed by law and other legal entitlements like provident fund, gratuity etc. due to the workmen. The appellant also states that many workmen received the said compensation. However, the respondent workme