JUDGMENT :

1. These are four writ petitions arising out of awards passed by the Presiding Officer, Labour Court, U.P., Gorakhpur dated 11.08.1999 and 13.08.1999 in Adjudication Case nos.103 of 1987 & 118 of 1987 and Misc. Case nos.404 of 1987, 90 of 1991 & 403 of 1987. The Labour Court has entered awards in the four industrial disputes between the U.P. State Sugar Corporation Limited, Unit Munderwa, District Basti (since re-named as U.P. Sugar and Cane Development Corporation, Unit Munderwa, Basti) and its various workmen who brought these industrial disputes, accepting the workmen's claims. These various workmen are the respondents to the writ petitions, whereas the U.P. Sugar and Cane Development Corporation, Unit Munderwa, Basti are the petitioners. The U.P. Sugar and Cane Development Corporation, Unit Munderwa, Basti is hereinafter referred to as the Employers whereas the private respondents in each of the writ petitions are hereinafter referred to as the workmen (except for singular reference where the name of the particular workman is mentioned).

2. All the four petitions involve similar questions of fact and law. As such, all the petitions were connected and heard together wit