PRANAB KUMAR CHATTOPADHYAY, J.

Food Corporation of India has Food Storage Depots through out the country for the purpose of storage of food grains, which are normally distributed through the Public Distribution System in various parts of the country. Food Corporation of India (hereinafter called as F.C.I.), however, cannot maintain its regular staff for the purpose of loading and unloading of the food grains in each and every depot. Therefore, Food Corporation of India appoints handling and transport contractor for handling of such food grains and also for doing the ancillary works relating to preservation of such food grains. The appellants herein were employed by the F.C.I. in 1983 at the Government Food Depot, New Jalpaiguri.

2. It is the case of the appellants that they were appointed directly by the District Manager, Food Corporation of India on 9th January, 1983 and always received the salaries/wages directly from the Food Corporation of India. It has been specifically submitted on behalf of the appellants that the said appellants were working under the supervision and control of the Food Corporation of India since their appointment in the year 1983. The real grievan