C.L. Soni, J.

1. All these petitions are filed by one employer - the Company questioning the orders made for payment of gratuity to its employees - private respondent in each matter under the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972 ("the Act").

2. For the sake of convenience, the petitions could be considered in three groups. Special Civil Application NO. 1833/2014 and Special Civil Application No. 4261 of 2014 will make first group. Special Civil Application No. 11179 of 2016 to 11229 of 2016 will be referred to as second group and Special Civil Application No. 4661 of 2008 to Special Civil Application No. 4770 of 2008 will be referred as third group. The matters of the first group are at the notice stage. The matters in second group are fresh one page petitions. The matters of the third group were admitted long back and placed for final hearing. Final arguments were heard in all matters as they were listed on the same day.

3. In third group of the matters, the orders passed by the appellate authority under the Act for payment of gratuity are challenged. However, in first and second group of the matters, the orders of the controlling authority under the Act are straightway challenged