1. The petitioner in this writ petition is the Britannia Biscuit Company Ltd. Employees Union (for short the petitioner-union). It has prayed for the issue of a writ declaration that the settlement, dated 14th October, 1981, entered into between the Britannia Industries Employees' Union, the third respondent, (for short the recognized union) and the Britannia Industries Ltd., the second respondent (for short management) is null and void. The facts leading to the filing of the writ petition may be set out as follows :

2. The management is engaged in the manufacture of biscuits and breads. It has been declared to be a public utility service within the meaning of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 (for short the Act). It employs about 950 workmen. It is an admitted fact that the third respondent was recognized as the proper bargaining agent of the workmen by the management as per the recommendations of the State evaluation and implementation committee. It is also an admitted fact that some of the workmen of the management are members of the petitioner-union. The total strength of the workmen of the management consisted of permanent, temporary and about 439 casual employees. Whil