In all these writ petitions as common question of law is involved they are taken up for consideration together and disposed of by this common order.

2. The petitioners in W.P. Nos. 6717 and 32623 of 1997; 3371, 20189, 22897 to 22899 and 36040 of 1998; 22925, 24945, 37914, 39020, 45731 and 44802 of 1999; 13826, 21040, 28946, 31466, 33528 and 36407 of 2000 are all co-operative societies/banks registered under the Karnataka Co-operative Societies Act, 1959 and are governed by the provisions of the said Act. The petitioners in W.P. Nos. 18025 and 25812 of 1997; 18191, 29650, 30229 and 30562 of 1998; 2542, 7112, 13813, 16780, 22928, 29657, 32148, 35275, 36461 and 38729 of 1999; 113 and 6304 of 2000 and 3997 and 47510 of 2001 are all employees of a Co-operative Society/Bank who are also governed by the provisions of the said Act. They have challenged in all these writ petitions the awards passed by the Labour Court under Section 10 of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947.

3. The State Legislature enact0d the Karnataka Co-operative Societies Act, 1959 with an object to consolidate and amend the laws relating to Co-operative Societies in the State and it generally provides for the estab