- (1.) These are applications under Article 32 of the Constitution. Respondent the National Industrial Development Corporation Limited is a government of India public sector enterprise and functions as consultants and engineers. The dispute in these cases relates to the employment of a clerk, some cooks and other employees in acanteen which was being run by the Corporation. The material placed on record shows that while the Corporation was proceeding to wind up the canteen, under interim orders of this court the canteen has been continuing and the employment of the petitioners has not been terminated.
(2.) Several affidavits have been filed from time to time by parties; several interim orders have also been made over the years when these petitions have been pending before this court; written submissions have also been furnished.
(3.) Counsel for the Corporation during the hearing of the matters took the stand that the Corporation was not interested in continuing the canteen as it is under no statutory obligation to maintain a canteen and the running of the canteen has been kept up only on account of the interim directions of this court. At one stage, this court had made an interim order suggesting to the Director of Canteen of the government of India to absorb the petitioners. That, however, has not been possible as the response indicates.;