( 1 ) ALL these petitions have been filed invoking the jurisdiction of this court under Article 226 of the Constitution of India challenging the constitutionality of the proviso to Section 1 (4) of the Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act, 1970 (hereinafter referred to as 'the Act') on the ground that it offends the fundamental rights of the petitioners guaranteed under Articles 14, 19 (l) (d) and 19 (l) (g) of the Constitution of india. The constitutional objection adverted is common to all the writ petitions. All the petitioners have challenged the notification dated 1st of July, 1992 issued by the 2nd respondent-State of Karnataka vide annexure-A making the provisions of the Act applicable to every establishment and every contractor, who employs less than 20 workmen on the ground that there is a transgression by the State of the limits laid down and it is the case whether the power exercised is excessive and unreasonable.

( 2 ) TO appreciate the grounds on which the contentions are sought to be sustained, it is necessary to set out briefly a few facts and I feel that it is sufficient to refer to the facts of the case in Writ Petition Nos. 2402 to 2