( 1 ) IN this petition several controversies are involved, but the main controversy is which is the appropriate Government under Section 2 (1) (a) of the contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act (hereinafter referred to as the Act) in relation to respondent no. 2 i. e. Indian Farmers Fertilizers cooperative Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as iffco ). Rest of the controversies are incidental. To resolve these controversies certain relevant facts are required to be stated. They are as under :-

( 2 ) IFFCO is a cooperative society. It was initially formed under the Multi-Unit Cooperative societies Act and after repeal of the said Act under the provisions of the Multi State Cooperative Societies Act. Its area of operation extends to the whole of the Indian union. The main objects for which IFFCO has been formed and registered as a multi - unit cooperative society are as under :-"the object of IFFCO shall be to promote the economic interest of its members by undertaking manufacture of chemical, fertilizers and allied products/bye products and their conversion, storage, transportation and marketing, undertake manufacture/processing of pesticides, seeds, agricultural