Dr. AR. LAKSHMANAN, J. - (1.) Leave granted in Special Leave Petition No. 6560 of 2001.
(2.) This group of writ petitions and appeals raise common questions of law relating to the abolition of contract system of labour. Writ Petition No. 433 of 1998 was filed by the All India Railway Parcel and Goods Porters Union praying for the following reliefs : "(a) Issue appropriate writ in the nature of mandamus or any other writ, direction or order commanding the respondents to treat the petitioners who are working as parcel porters as permanent employees of the Northern Railway as has been directed by this Honble Court in various petitions filed by the colleagues of the petitioners and a further direction may be given to abolish contract system in parcel handling work at different Railway Stations in Northern Railway and all the Parcel Porters working at different Railway Stations of Northern Railway may be treated as regular employees of the Railways; (b) Issue an appropriate writ, direction or order commanding the respondents to treat the petitioners as employees of Northern Railway and give them the same benefits which have been given to other parcel porters working at different Railway Stations of Northern Railway as regular employees of Northern Railway; (c) Issue an appropriate writ, direction or order commanding the respondents to stop treating the petitioners as contract labour at Railway Stations of Northern Railway for loading and unloading of parcels as this work done by the petitioners is of permanent and perennial nature."
(3.) Similar prayers have been asked for by the petitioners Union in other writ petitions. Civil Appeal No. 57 of 2001 was filed by the Union of India and others questioning the correctness of the final judgment and order dated 7-7-2000 passed by the High Court of Delhi in Writ Petition No. 5595 of 1998. In the said case, the Central Administrative Tribunal allowed the claim of the respondents therein by following the judgment of this Court in National Federation of Railway Porters, Vendors and Bearers vs. Union of India and others, reported in (1995) 3 Suppl. SCC 152. Since the issue raised in the said writ petition before the Delhi High Court is pending consideration of this Court in Writ Petition No. 433 of 1998 wherein this Court on 8-9-2000, passed the following interim order. "Pending disposal of these petitions, there shall be no regularization of parcel porters working at different railway stations notwithstanding any order of any Court, Tribunal or other authorities. Call after six weeks." ;