P. Vishwanatha Shetty, J.— Since, in all these petitions common questions have been raised and arose for consideration, all these petitions along with a few other connected petitions were taken up for hearing together.

2. The petitioner in Writ Petition No. 7405 of 2002 and Writ Petitions Nos. 8891 to 9021 of 2002 is the BHEL Employees' Association which is a registered trade union under the Indian Trade Unions Act, 1926 (hereinafter referred to as "the Trade Unions Act"). It is claimed by the petitioner in the said petitions that the petitioner-association represents the interest of the workmen numbering around 1,100 employed in the Electronics Division of the Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "the BHEL") ; and these petitions have been filed by the association on behalf of the members who are residing in the BHEL quarters and also in the colony belonging to the BHEL.

3. The first petitioner in Writ Petition No. 7205 of 2002 is Bharat Earth Movers Officers' Guild and the second petitioner is the assistant manager employed in the Bharat Earth Movers Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "the BEML"). The first petitioner in Writ Petition No. 7206 of 2002 is