JUDGMENT

S. Saghir Ahmad, J.-Leave granted.

2. After the decision of this Court in Bangalore Water Supply & Sewerage Board v. A. Rajappa & Ors.1 in which a comprehensive definition of the word "Industry" was attempted to be given followed by legislative changes in the Industrial Disputes Act, it was thought that the Management or Establishments would give up their old habit of raising preliminary issues in Industrial References as to "whether they are an `Industry within the meaning of the Industrial Disputes Act or not", but Samuel Johnson s observation that "one of the maxims of civil law is that definitions are hazardous" is still true and this question continues to be raised almost in every case before the Tribunal.

3. The appellant is no exception and it has also raised the same question which has brought this industrial litigation, still at its infancy, to this Court.

4. The appellant is a society registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1960 and respondent no.3 is an association of its employees. In Writ Petition No. 12525 of 1991 filed in the High Court of Punjab & Haryana, respondent no. 3 prayed for a direction that the appellant should, like other industrial estab