Order

1.Heard learned for the parties.

2.These appeals by special leave are directed against the common judgment and order dated 24.5.2000 passed by a learned Single Judge of the Punjab & Haryana High Court in Regular Second Appeal Nos. 42/2000 and 43/2000 whereby the High Court has upheld the order of the Trial Court. The Trial Court had directed that the respondents herein who were working as Tractor Drivers on daily wage basis should be granted the same pay scale as those who had been regularly appointed, on the principle of equal pay for equal work. However, the other relief regarding regularization of their services was declined by the Trial Court and the same as affirmed by the High Court.

3.Aggrieved by the order of the High Court, the State of Punjab is in appeal before us.

4.Special leave was granted by this Court on 17.8.2001 and the execution of the order passed by the High Court was stayed. Today the appeals are before us for final hearing.

5.We have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the impugned judgment of the High Court as also of the Trial Court.

6.The principle of equal pay for equal work has gone a sea change. Earlier the vie