CHITALE J --The facts giving rise to this petition, briefly stated, are as follows: The petitioner, P. R. Kokil, is the Headmaster of Railway Boys Primary School at Puma, District Parbhani. He joined Railway service under N. S. Railway as a teacher from April 1, 1936. We need not state here the details of his career. At the material time he was an employee of South Central Railway. It is not disputed on behalf of respondent No.1, the General Manager, South Central Railway, that the petitioner is an employee of South Central Railway, his salary is paid by that Railway and he is under the administrative control of that Railway. In November 1966 election of the office-bearers of the South Central Railway Mazdoor Union (hereinafter referred to as the Union) took place and the petitioner was elected as the Divisional President of the said Union. By the letter dated November 22, 1966 the names of the newly elected office-bearers were communicated to the General Manager. South Central Railway. In reply to that letter, the General Manager by his letter dated November 30, 1966 informed the General Secretary of the Union that the petitioner being the Headmaster of a Railway Primary