S. K. Kapur, J. ( 1 ) THIS judgment will dispose of civil writ petitions Nos. 133-D, 195-D and 133-D of 1965. Since the parties agree that decision in civil writ No. 165-D of 1965 govern the other two cases, I am confining myself only to the facts of the said petition ( 2 ) AN industrial dispute arose between the petitioner-company and its workmen as represented by the Delhi Commercial Employees Sangh, respondent No. 3, and the same was referred for adjudication to the Industrial Tribunal, Delhi, vide 1. D. No. 74 of 1957. In the above reference the petitioner-company raised a preliminary objection that it was engaged only in managing its immoveable property known as "sujan Singh Park" and was therefore, not an industry within the meaning of section 2 (j) of the Industrial Dispates Act. It is alleged by the petitioner-company that due to some wrong advice the said objection was not pressed and consequently no issue was framed on this objection. While making the award, however, Shri E. Krishan Murti, the then Presiding Officer of the Industrial Tribunal, observed "at the out set I may refer to a contention raised in the written statement, that, as the company is solely engaged in supervising the maintenance of the estates styled as "sujan Singh Park it does not carry on any trade or business with the purpose of making any profits and that the subject-matter of the reference cannot therefore, form the subject-matter of an industrial dispute. This contention cannot be sustained. In fact, Shri Bhasin for the management has given up this contention in view of the very wide definition of the word industry as contained in section 2 (j) of the Industrial Disputes Act. There is no doubt at all, that the company is engaged in an undertaking, or calling" so as to come within the definition of the word industry , and there is an industrial dispute in respect of the various matters shown in the order of reference. The above contention is accordingly rejected. " ( 3 ) IT is further alleged in the writ petition that the Delhi Commercial Employees Sangh, respondent No. 3 (hereafter REFERRED TO as the Sangh), gave a notice to the petitioner company saying inter alia that "the award dated 16th May, 1959, in industrial dispute No. 74 of 1957 is terminated by us. " ( 3 ) IT is further alleged in the writ petition that the Delhi Commercial Employees Sangh, respondent No. 3 (hereafter REFERRED TO as the Sangh), gave a notice to the petitioner company saying inter alia that "the award dated 16th May, 1959, in industrial dispute No. 74 of 1957 is terminated by us. " Issue of this notice has not been denied by the Sangh. Another industrial dispute arose between the petitioner company and its workmen Shri Thakar Singh, which was REFERRED TO the Industrial Tribunal, Delhi vide Government order dated 5/10th August, 1961. The dispute related to the question of reinstatement of Shri Thakar Singh and was alleged to have been supported by the Sangh. The petitioner-company filed a writ petition to. this Court under Article 226 of the Constitution and asked for quashing of the above reference on the ground that the petitioner-company did not carry on any industry within the meaning of section 2 (j) of the Industrial Disputes Act. The Sangh filed a reply affidavit in this Court reciting inter alia that the question stood concluded by the earlier award of Tribunal. When the matter came up for hearing before P. D. Sharma J. the learned counsel for the petitioner-company prayed that the Tribunal may be directed to decide the question relating to the petitioner-company being or not being an industry as preliminary issue and the aggrieved party will then have recourse to appropriate proceedings according to law. In pursuance of this statement P. D. Sharma, J. dismissed the writ petition as withdrawn by his order dated 1st August, 1963, and directed the Tribunal to first decide the question whether the petitioner-company "is an industrial establishment within the meaning of this term as defined in the Industrial Disputes Act. " When the matter went back to the Tribunal it recorded the evidence of the parties and by an interim award dated 18th January, 1965, decided that the issue as to whether the petitioner-corn. pan is carrying on an industry or not having been conclusively decided by the previous Tribunal it could not be re-agitated because of the interdictions by principles of res-judicata. By this petition the petitioner-company has challenged the said in rerim award. pan is carrying on an industry or not having been conclusively decided by the previous Tribunal it could not be re-agitated because of the interdictions by principles of res-judicata. By this petition the petitioner-company has challenged the said in rerim award. ( 4 ) RELYING on the observations of the Industrial Tribunal made in the earlier award, it has been suggested by the learned counsel for the petitioner-company that the earlier decision, based on concession, could not operate as res judicata as matters heard and finally decided on merits alone can estop a party from reagitating the same. In view of my decision on the other point, which I shall presently state, it is not in my opinion, necessary to express any views on this point. ( 5 ) THE more formidable objection on behalf of the petitioner company is that a decision on a question as to whether or not an establishment falls within the definition of "industry" cannot operate as res judicata. The argument is that the industrial Tribunal has been conferred with a jurisdiction to decide only industrial disputes. If an establishment is not an industry, an erroneous decision by the Tribunal, that it is, will not bind the parties. The jurisdiction of the Tribunal, which is a Tribunal of limited jurisdiction, according to the learned counsel for the petitioner-company, depends on the establishment being an industry. If it is not an industry then the decision would be by a Tribunal having no jurisdiction to deal with the matter. I think, there is force in this contention which finds support from a decision of the Calcutta High Court in D. P. Dunderdele and others v. G. P. Mukherjee and another. It was there decided that an earlier decision of an Industrial Tribunal holding that it had jurisdiction to decide a dispute between a firm of solicitors and their employees did not operate as resjudicata. The Tribunal constituted under the Industrial Disputes Act possesses a limited jurisdiction and has not been delegated with powers of general administration to finally decide its own jurisdiction. If the Tribunal, therefore, assumes, jurisdiction, by an erroneous decision, over a subject-matter which is not an industrial dispute covered by the Industrial Disputes Act, I think, in fresh proceedings it would be open to any of the parties to show that the previous decision was without jurisdiction. If the Tribunal, therefore, assumes, jurisdiction, by an erroneous decision, over a subject-matter which is not an industrial dispute covered by the Industrial Disputes Act, I think, in fresh proceedings it would be open to any of the parties to show that the previous decision was without jurisdiction. On a successful attack on the jurisdiction of the Tribunal in subsequent proceedings the previous award would be by a Court of Incompetent jurisdiction. It is a known rule of law that if for the parposes of deciding a question which relates to the special jurisdiction a special Tribunal finds it necessary to decide another matter that matter does not become a matter of special jurisdiction and a decision on it does not bind the parties. A Tribunal of limited jurisdiction may be invested with powers to deal with a subject-matter only if certain state of facts exist? or it may be entrusted with jurisdiction also to determine the existence of such facts. In the former case if the Tribunal wrongly holds or assumes the existence of those facts on which its jurisdiction depends then that decision or assumption is not final or conclusive. Industrial Tribunals do not, in my opinion, possess power to finally andconclusively decided whether or not a particular enterprise is an industry. The earlier decision of the Tribunal on a jurisdicational fact will not, therefore, shut out an enquiry by this Court. If this Court decides that the enterprise is not an industry, the previous decision of the Tribunal on such an issue will not be final between the parties. On behalf of the Sangh strong reliance has been placed on the decision of their Lordships of the Supreme Court in Burn and Co. v. Their Employees. The other cases relied upon by the Sangh are 1. Elphinstone Spinning and Weaving Mills Company Ltd. v. Its Workmen. 2. Walford Transport Ltd. v. First Industrial Tribunal, West Bengal, and others. 3. Varahalakshmi Rice and Oil Mills and others v. Industrial Tribunal. Hyderabad. 4. Trichy-Srirangam Transport Company v. Industrial Tribunal, Madras". ( 6 ) IN Burn and Co. s case, their Lordships of the Supreme Court decided that though section II, Civil Procedure Code, is in terms inapplicable to the industrial disputes but the principle underlying it, which is founded on sound public policy, for all times governs even the proceedings before the Industrial Tribunals. ( 6 ) IN Burn and Co. s case, their Lordships of the Supreme Court decided that though section II, Civil Procedure Code, is in terms inapplicable to the industrial disputes but the principle underlying it, which is founded on sound public policy, for all times governs even the proceedings before the Industrial Tribunals. In the case before the Supreme Court the earlier decision of the Tribunal related to pay scales and, therefore the question of jurisdiction based on a decision regarding a collateral matter did not arise. The same distinction would obtain with respect to the other cases relied upon by the Sangh. No doubt the rule of res-Judicata is based on wisdom of experience and is intended to secure finality of litigation so as to avoid a person being vexed twice over for the same cause, but its scope cannot be extended beyond its legitimate limits, for the rule is merely one of convenience and not of absolute justice. If the proposition sought to be laid down on behalf of the Sangh were to be accepted, it would mean that in every case where the Tribunal assumes jurisdiction, which in fact it has none over a subject matter by an erroneous decision, that will bind the parties for all times to come. I cannot see why a party cannot in subsequent proceedings say that the previous decision of the Tribunal, being a decision on a collateral or a jurisdictional fact by a Court of Limited jurisdiction, is not conclusive between them. In this view, it must be held that the Tribunal committed an error apparent on the face of the record in holding that the previous decision operated as res-J udicata. The writ petitions are, therefore, allowed and the interim awards dated 18th January, 1965, in all the three cases, are quashed. The matter will go back to the Tribunal for decision in accordance with law. Both the parties have expressed a desire that they should be provided with a further opportunity to adduce evidence on this issue. I therefore, direct the Tribunal to give that opportunity to the parties. In the circumstances of the case, there will be no order as to costs.