Ranjana Desai, J.

The petitioner is a Public Sector Undertaking of the Central Government engaged in the activity of manufacture and marketing of chemicals and fertilizers. The 1st respondent is the Chairman of the Grocery Markets and Shops Board constituted under Section 6 of the Maharashtra Mathadi, Hamal and other Manual Workers (Regulation of Employment and Welfare) Act, 1969 (“the Mathadi Act” for short). The 2nd respondent is the Grocery Markets and Shops Board (“the Board” for short). The 3rd respondent is the Commissioner of Labour and the 4th respondent is the State of Maharashtra. The 5th respondent is the Maharashtra Rajya Mathadi, Transport and General Kamgar Union and the 6th respondent is the Transport & Dock Workers’ Union.

2. The case of the petitioner needs to be shortly stated.

a) The petitioner is a manufacturer and distributor of fertilizers and industrial chemicals. There are about 5000 regular workers employed with the petitioner. The petitioner has two plants in Maharashtra, one at Thal in Raigad District and one at Trombay. In addition to the said 5000 regular workers, the petitioner also engaged the services of about 700 Mathadi workers at its f