( 1 ) THIS is an application wherein there are 44 petitioners previously employed by Messrs. Rallis India Ltd. , formerly known as Messrs. Railis Brothers Limited, together with Rallis India Limited Employees' Union.

( 2 ) THE facts are shortly as follows: The said Company is a very well-known concern carrying on business in Calcutta for many years past. At one time they were employing more than 600 workmen in their Calcutta branch. From 1953 onwards, the Company found their Calcutta concern running at a loss. Sometime in April 1954, the Company retrenched some of the employees in its Calcutta establishment as well as at Kantapukur, Cossipore and some other out-stations. The retrenchment, however, was strongly opposed and had to be abandoned. Ultimately, in 1955 the Board of Directors finally decided to close the Calcutta establishment entirely with effect from 31-5-1955. At this stage, however, the Minister for Labour. West Bengal intervened and the Board of Directors agreed to give effect to a scheme, the foundation of which was that all unprofitable activities were to be abandoned and only the minimum staff retained to continue departments which under present conditi