JUDGMENT :

Abhay Manohar Sapre, J.

1. These appeals are directed against the final judgment and order dated 13.12.2006 passed by the High Court of Madras at Chennai in Writ Appeal No.3383 & 3382 of 2003 whereby the High Court dismissed the appeals filed by appellant herein.

2. In order to appreciate the short controversy involved in these appeals, few relevant facts need to be mentioned infra.

3. The appellant is a Government of India Undertaking known as “Food Corporation of India” (hereinafter referred to as “the FCI”). The appellant is engaged in the business of sale, procurement, storage and distribution of food grains.

4. In order to carry out their business activities, which are spread all over the country, the appellant has established its Branch offices in every State. One such Branch office is at Chennai (TN). The appellant has employed a large number of employees to carry out its business operations through their Chennai Branch office with which we are concerned in these appeals.

5. In the year 1992, a dispute arose between the appellant (FCI) and around 955 employees working in the Branch office at Chennai as to whether these 955 employees are the employees of the FCI or they