D.MURUGESAN, J.

1. This contempt appeal is directed against the order dated 19.1.2012 passed in Contempt Petition No.161 of 2010.

2. The factual matrix leading to the filing of the present contempt appeal are as follows. Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (hereinafter referred to as "the Corporation"), a Public Sector Undertaking under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Government of India, is having its oil and natural gas exploration and exploitation sites, both on-shore and off-shore, at various places all over the country. The Corporation was having in its employment the regular posts of Marine Assistant Radio Operators, Marine Radio Operators, Marine Radio Officers, Senior Marine Radio Officers for manning the radio network and communication equipment at drill sites. The Corporation also engaged the services of "Radio Operators", as contract labour, through certain private independent contractors. The respondents were initially engaged by the Corporation to work as 'Radio Operators' in the Cauvery and Krishna Godhavari Project through private contractors on and from the year 1986.

3. While they were functioning as such, the Central Government, in exerci