ASHOKE KUMAR DASADHIKARI, J. - (1.) In view of earlier direction of this Hon'ble Court all the writ petitions were taken up together since the issues involved in all these writ petitions are same.
(2.) Mr. Gupta, learned Senior Counsel appearing for the petitioner, Indian Iron and Steel Co. Ltd., submits that the respondent employees made application in Form 'N' under Rule 10(1) of the Payment of Gratuity (Central) Rules, 1972 before the Controlling Authority and Assistant Labour Commissioner (Central), Raniganj at Durgapur with the prayer for determination and realization of gratuity amount for a particular period under the appellant-employer. A prayer also made for interim relief/ad hoc advance already drawn by the concerned employees for calculation of gratuity. The employer submitted that respondent-employees were engaged as full-time apprentices under Apprentices Act, 1961 and after completion of apprenticeship period they were given regular appointment in the company.
(3.) It was submitted on behalf of the company that the company has paid dues as regards period for which the employees were served as regular employees of the company. However, the concerned employees are claiming the benefit for the period for which they were appointed as apprentice.;