1. These writ petitions were filed by various Handloom Weavers Cooperative Production and Sales Societies. In these writ petitions the petitioners have come forward to challenge an order passed by the Employees Provident Fund Appellate Tribunal, New Delhi in various appeals filed by them.

2. The petitioners' societies aggrieved by the orders passed by the Provident Fund Authorities under Section 7-A of the Employees Provident Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952 (for short EPF Act), had preferred appeals under Section 7-I of the EPF Act. In their appeal memorandum, they contended that the societies are run by its members and they are no employees under the societies. Therefore, the question of covering the alleged workers of the societies will not arise. They also contended that the societies are exempted in terms of Section 16(1)(a) of the EPF Act. Apart from these legal issues, they have also raised other issues, i.e., the societies are extending various benefits to its members. Hence there is no necessity to cover them separately. Along with appeal memos, they have also enclosed several circulars relating to cooperative societies issued by the State Government