Hon’ble Rajan Roy, J.—These connected petitions have been heard together and are being decided by this common judgement. WRIT - A No. - 35425 of 1997 is the leading case.

2. Heard Sri B.N.Singh, learned counsel for all the petitioners and Sri Harish Chandra Pathak, learned Standing Counsel for the respondents.

3. The petitioners herein were engaged as part-time tube-well operators on different dates between 1981 to 1983 in the Irrigation department of the State.

4. Other similarly appointed part-time tube-well operators, raised an industrial dispute before the Labour Court claiming parity of pay with regularly appointed tube-well operators on the ground that their duties, qualifications and working hours etc. were similar to each other. The Labour Court recorded a finding in their favour and allowed the claim. On a challenge being made by the State Government before the High Court, the findings recorded by the Labour Court were affirmed. Matter went up to the Supreme Court and there also, the findings recorded by the Labour Court as well as the High Court, were affirmed. Consequently, part-time tube-well operators were given pay parity.

5. In one of the special appeals aris