Rajagopalan, J.

In W.P. No. 602 of 1954, by which he refused to issue a writ of certiorari to quash the award of the Industrial tribunal, Madras, in I.D. No. 19 of 1953. The appellant was the sole proprietor of a business carried on under the name of Photo Litho Press. On 20 February, 1953, the workers employed in this press through their union made certain demands which the appellant did not comply with. Thereupon conciliation proceedings were commenced on 26 March, 1953. When these proceedings for conciliation were pending, on 11 April, 1953, the appellant issued a notice informing his employees that since he was unable to run the press owing to domestic and other circumstances their services would not be required from that day and he offered to pay them one month's wages in lieu of notice. The conciliation officer reported about his failure to bring about conciliation. Thereupon the Government of Madras, in exercise of their powers under S. 10(1)(c) of the Industrial Disputes Act, XIV of 1947, referred the dispute on 7 July, 1953 to the industrial tribunal, Madras, for adjudication. In the order of reference the dispute was described thus :

"Whether the closure of the