entered between them to that effect under Section 18(1) of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947. The Petitioners, who have availed the benefits of the said settlements, had re-joined duty in the year 2007, but filed the Writ Petitions in the year 2015 seeking for a declaration that those settlements were illegal and invalid as they have been deprived of their past employment. It was urged on behalf of the First Respondent before the Learned Judge that as per the provisions of the Section 18(1) of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, which reads that a Settlement arrived at by agreement between the employer and workman otherwise than in the course of conciliation proceeding shall be binding on the parties to the agreement, cannot be resiled. However, the Learned Judge was of the view that having regard to the fact that the Petitioners had been dismissed from service on 24.11.2001 and had been out of employment till the offer of settlement was made on 15.03.2007, they have given up their claim for past service under economic duress and the same has serious financial consequences warranting interference by the Court. In that view of the matter, the Learned Judge directed that the Petitioners should be treated as permanent employees of the First Respondent from the date of their original employment with continuity of service throughout for all notional purposes except for the payment of wages for period from 24.11.2001 to 15.03.2007. The aforesaid order of the Learned Judge is assailed by the First Respondent in these appeals.
