There are three petitions by the Workers’ Union of Spencer & Company, Ltd., Express Newspapers, Ltd., and the Swadesamitran, Ltd., against the State of Madras under section 226 of the Constitution of India for issue of a writ of mandamus directing the State of Madras to refer the dispute between the workers and the managements to a Tribunal under section 10(1)(c) or 10(2) of the Industrial Disputes Act and prohibit under section 10(3) the lock-out of the employees effected by the management.

The point for determination in all the writs is the same and it is hot necessary to recount in detail the facts relating to each of these petitions. It is sufficient if some of the relevant facts are referred to with reference to one of these cases, since the outstanding features in each case are practically common. I would therefore deal with the petition which was argued first that is writ petition No.41 of 1951, filed by the Spencer Workers’ Union.

Regarding certain grievances of the workers mainly relating to wages, dearness allowance and bonus, the Union convened a meeting of the workers on 22nd September, 1950, and formulated their demands to the company. On the 27th September, 1950,