JUDGMENT

SAWANT, J.:—Leave granted in all the petitions.

These four groups of appeals raise common questions of law relating to the abolition of contract system of labour. Civil appeals C.A.No. 5497 & 5504/95 arising out of S.L.P. (c) Nos. 2613 of 1991 and 13520 of 1991 are filed by the managements, viz., Gujarat Electricity Board and M/s. Bihar State Co-operative Milk Producers Federation Ltd. respectively, while Civil Appeals 5498-02/95, 5503/95 arising out of S.L.P.(C) Nos. 9310-14 of 1991 and 9315 of 1991 are filed by the employees unions, viz., Delhi officers and Establishment Employees Union and New Delhi General Mazdoor Union respectively, both against the same management, viz., Standing Conference Of Public Enterprises (SCOPE) & Anr.

2. For the sake of convenience, we will first deal with the facts in Civil Appeal 5497/95 arising out of S.L.P. (C) No. 2613 of 1991 and the questions of law as they arise therefrom.

C.A. No. 5497/95, S.L.P. (C) No. 2613 of 1991

3. The appellant-board runs a Thermal Power Station at Ukai in Gujarat where it generates and distributes electricity to the consumers. At the relevant time besides the direct workmen, the Board deployed through various