SATYA BRATA SINHA, C. J.

( 1 ) THESE writ petitions being inter-related were taken up for hearing together and are being disposed of by this common judgment.

( 2 ) THE question which arises for consideration in these matters is the applicability of the provisions of Contract labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act, 1970 ("the Act" for brevity) in the fact situation of the present cases.

( 3 ) THE petitioners in all these petitions are working as contract labourers in Bharat Heavy plates and Vessels Ltd. , (BHPVL) visakhapamam having been engaged by their respective contractors. The petitioners in WP no. 25930 of 1999 four in number are working in Civil Department. Petitioners 1 to 3 are said to be working for more than 20 years while petitioner No. 4 is working for more than two years. In WP No. 26098 of 1999, all the petitioners are working since 1980 in the electrical Department while the petitioners in wp No. 26098 of 1999 are working in horticulture Department. According to the petitioners, all of them are working continuously and the work is perennial in nature. It is alleged that some of them were kept out of employment on the ground that they had demanded regularisation of ser

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