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In 1980 KLT S.N. 45 Case No. 99, a Division Bench held that the scope of the reference was limited to the issue raised before it and it did not cover any question relating to seniority of the persons. In Co-operative Sugars Ltd. v. Palghat District Progressive Sugar Workers Union 1997 (2) KLT SN 4 Case No. 3, a Division Bench took the view that unless an industrial dispute exists legally and the same is duly referred, a tribunal will not have the jurisdiction to adjudicate and decide the same. The Court proceeded to hold that the mere fact that a reference is made may not confer a tribunal jurisdiction to adjudicate and decide the matter. The Court also held that the tribunal may have to decide the question of jurisdiction, if a dispute is raised that no industrial dispute was in existence to be referred or that the industrial dispute referred was duly settled already. I do not think that the said principle can have any application to the facts of this case. In Ajith v. State of Kerala , a learned Single Judge of this Court was dealing with a Writ Petition under Article 226 by persons who were engaged as hatchery workers under the Matsyafed. The claim was for regularisation of service. The Court directed the Secretary, Department of Fisheries to consider whether the request for regularisation is justified. The learned Single Judge proceeded to hold as follows: