Sathiadev, J.

The prayer in the writ petitions filed by the Buckingham and Carnatic Mills Staff Union is for the issue of a writ of mandamus, directing the second respondent-Commissioner of Labour, Madras to prohibit the 3rd respondent. The Management of Binny limited (Buckingham and Carnatic Mills Unit) from laying off the staff until such time the voluntary retirement scheme is implemented as per cl. (v) of the Memorandum of Understanding which is annexed as Annexure "A" to the settlement dated 6-6-1981. In substance the petitioners are seeking a writ of mandamus to compel the second respondent-Commissioner of Labour to enforce a settlement arrived at between the parties under S.12(3) of the Industrial Disputes Act. One of the questions, therefore, that arises for adjudication in this writ petition is the jurisdiction of this Court under Art. 226 of the Constitution of India to issue a writ of mandamus, directing the Commissioner of Labour to enforce a settlement arrived at between the management and the workmen under S.12(3) of the Industrial Disputes Act. The Writ petition No. 11168 of 1981 (K. Kalaimani - 114 others v. Govt. of India, Ministry of Commerce, by Its Se