Dutt, J. - (1.) Special leave is granted. Heard learned Counsel for the parties.
(2.) These appeals preferred by the appellant, the Maharashtra State Co-operative Cotton Growers Marketing Federation Ltd, are directed against the judgment of the Bombay High Court whereby the High Court allowed the writ petitions of the respondents and quashed the order of the Industrial Court, Maharashtra (Kolhapur Bench), Kolhapur, dismissing the complaints filed by the respondents.
(3.) The Government of Maharashtra appointed the Maharashtra State Co-operative Marketing Federation, hereinafter referred to as "the Marketing Federation", the Chief Agent in the Cotton Monopoly Scheme under the provision of Section 42 of the Maharashtra Raw Cotton (Procurement Process of Marketing) Act, 1971. The activities of the Marketing Federation extended to various agricultural produce including foodgrains. In February, 1984, the Government carved out the operation of the levy of cotton from the other activities of the Marketing Federation and assigned them to another Society, namely, the Maharashtra State Co-operative Cotton Growers Marketing Federation Ltd., the appellant in all these appeals. By its order dated August 10, 1984, the Government directed the Marketing Federation to take the following actions:- "(i) In respect of the staff working under the Cotton Monopoly Scheme at present, the services of the seasonal staff working, if any, should be terminated with immediate effect and in any case not later than 15th August, 1984. (ii) So far as the regular staff is concerned it is proposed that the services of the staff working in the Cotton Department of the Federation at Bombay and in the Mofussil areas would be placed at the disposal of the new Organisation on "as is where is basis" as on 1st July, 1984.";