The Chief Justice.-These three appeals under the Letters Patent are against the judgment of Krishnaswami Nayudu, J.1 disposing of three applications for the issue of writs of mandamus directing the State of Madras to refer certain industrial disputes between the workers and the managements of the industrial concerns to an Industrial Tribunal for adjudication. These three petitions were filed by the workers of Messrs. Spencer and Co., Ltd., Express Newspapers, Ltd., and the Swadesamitran, Ltd. The facts which led to these applications are fully set out in the order under appeal and it is sufficient to mention only the material and salient facts which are necessary for the disposal of these appeals. It is common ground that the workers in these companies made certain demands on the respective managements and these demands were not acceded to and the Commissioner of Labour as the Conciliation Officer appointed under the Industrial Disputes Act, XIV of 1947 commenced conciliation proceedings under section 12(1) of the Act which runs as follows:

“Where any industrial dispute exists or is apprehended the conciliation officer may, or where the dispute relates to a public utility service an

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