Sinha, J. --

INTRODUCTION

1. Whether an agreement despite expiry would prevail over a regulation made under section 79(c) of the Electricity (Supply) Act, 1948 (for short 'the Act') as regards the age of superannuation of an employee of the respondent Board, is the primal question involved in this appeal which arises out of a judgment and order dated 11.9.2001 passed by the High Court of Judicature of Madhya Pradesh at Jabalpur in L.P.A. No. 34 of 200l.

Factual Background:

2. The appellant is a registered Union of the employees of the Madhya Pradesh State Electricity Board (for short 'the Board'). The erstwhile Electricity Board framed regulations in the year 1952 under section 79(c) of the Act known as General Service Conditions of Board Servants. In the year 1957, the respondent-Board came into existence on reorganisation of the State.

2.1. The State of Madhya Pradesh enacted the Madhya Pradesh Industrial Relations Act, 1960 (for short 'the 1960 Act') with a view to regulate the relations of employers and employees in certain matters, to make provisions for settlement of industrial disputes and to provide for matters connected therewith. In the year 1961, the State of Madhya Pra