( 1 ) THESE writ petitions, about 35 in number, have been filed by the petitioner, who is said to be a handling Contractor, challenging the common order dated November 26, 1991 in I. A. Nos. 1/91 etc. in P. G. Case Nos. 173/91, etc. passed by the 1st respondent, condoning the delay in filing the applications under the provisions of the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972 and also in allowing the claim of the workers for the

payment of gratuity, simultaneously, with a further direction that the amounts specified in the annexure to the said order be paid within 30 days from the date of order.

( 2 ) THE workers, who are arrayed as the 2nd respondent in these writ petitions, respectively, claimed before the 1st respondent that they were employed under the petitioner/management, as steel handling labourers with effect from September 1, 1976 and that their services were terminated for reasons not disclosed to them, on October 31, 1989 and consequently, they were obliged to submit applications under Rule 7 (1) of the Payment of Gratuity Rules, 1972, Since the writ petitioner failed to pay them the gratuity, they had to approach the 1st respondent and in doing so, there was a delay an