1. This writ petition has been filed challenging the soundness of the impugned common award passed by the I Additional Labour Court, Chennai in I.D.Nos.79 to 85, 124 and 125 of 2000 dated 23.4.2004, to quash the same insofar as the first respondent has negatived the claim of the petitioners for reinstatement with continuity of service along with backwages and all other attendant benefits.

2. Mr.K.Mohanamurali, learned counsel for the petitioners submitted that when all the writ petitioners were engaged by the second respondent Management as casual workers on various dates between 5.10.94 and 24.12.94, they were paid with a daily wage of Rs.80 to Rs.85. While so, all of a sudden, in the month of May 1998, the services of the petitioners were terminated without assigning any reason. As the Management did not follow or comply with the mandatory requirements of Section 25-F of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 ("the Act" in short), although the petitioners worked continuously for more than 240 days in the preceding one year, the Axle India Workers Union, which is championing the cause of majority workmen, objected to the said practice of engaging casual and contract workmen an