1. The petitioner is the Management who is also the Principal Employer. They have come forward challenging the preliminary order passed by the first respondent/Labour Court in I.A.No.16 of 2009 in I.D.No.11 of 1999 dated 3.3.2010.

2. The circumstances leading to passing of the impugned order is as follows:

The Union Territory of Puducherry by G.O.Rt.No.51/99/Lab/L dated 19.4.1999 referred the following issue for adjudication.

"Whether the refusal of employment to the workmen as mentioned in Annexue II of this order by the management of M/s. P.L. Haulwel – 9 on the ground that they are the employees of their contractor Thiru.Selvaraj, is justified? If not, to what relief they are entitled to?

To compute the relief, if any , awarded in terms of money, if it can be so computed."

On such reference being made, the first respondent, Labour Court took up the dispute on file as I.D.No.11 of 1999. The second respondent Union filed the Claim Statement dated 9.4.2009 seeking the relief against the petitioner Management. However, the petitioner Management challenges the order of reference by writ petition in W.P.No.13562/1999 before the Court. The contention of the Management wa