S. B. SINHA, C. J.

( 1 ) PER All these Writ Appeals involving similar questions of fact and law were taken up for hearing together and are being disposed of by this common Judgment.

( 2 ) THE question which arises for consideration in these appeals is as regards the interpretation of the provisions of Section 49 of the A. P. Shops and Establishments Act (for short the Act ) vis-a-vis the jurisdiction of the 1st respondent herein to entertain an application in terms of sub-section 1 of Section 48 thereof.

( 3 ) THE admitted fact of the matter, before adverting to the question involved in these appeals, may be noticed: the appellant-company, a company registered and incorporated under the Indian companies Act, with a view to expand its business activity had entered into a purchase agreement with respondents 3 and 4 herein who were essentially engaged in the sale and distribution of non-alcoholic beverages being manufactured and bottled by another company being Spectra Bottling Company Limited. Although the appellant herein had no liability to take over the services of the employees of respondents 3 and 4, they agreed to take over on its rolls only such of those employees who had no

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