Order.- This petition is filed by the Coimbatore District Textile Mills Staff Union for the issue of a writ of mandamus directing the Government of Madras to refer the dispute in regard to clerical staff into an industrial dispute. One Arogyaswamy was employed as a cashier in Vijayeswari Textiles Limited Puliampatti, Pollachi. Out of 23 employees in the mills four were members of the’ petitioner-Union. Arogyaswamy in September, 1964 was drawing a salary of Rs. 345 as cashier-cum-clerk. On 21st September, 1964 the management dismissed Arogyaswamy paying him a month’s salary in lieu of notice. In the notice it was stated that on checking of accounts there were certain shortages and that Arogyaswamy was the cause of such shortages. It was further stated that Arogyaswamy confessed having embezzled moneys and subsequently made good the embezzled moneys and gave information regarding the balance which he had claimed to have loaned to other staff members. It was alleged that Arogyaswamy represented that he would resign from his post after few months and that the directors agreed to such a course. But subsequently Arogyaswamy changed his mind and sent a letter dated 14th September, 1964 suppressing all material facts. The management felt that they could not continue Arogyaswamy in service any longer and taking into consideration the admitted acts of commission and omission the management lost its confidence in him, and, while they did not want to go back on the accommodation and sympathy shown by them, they terminated his services on payment of a month’s salary. The petitioner-Union took up the matter and the Labour Officer submitted a failure report on 3rd March, 1965. The petitioner-Union on 15th March, 1965 requested the Government to refer the case for adjudication and thereby enable the workman to prove his innocence. On 24th April, 1965 the petitioner-Union submitted a mahazar signed by 76 out of 350 employees demanding reinstatement of Arogyaswamy. On 11th August, 1965 the Government declined to refer the case for adjudication on two grounds, namely, (1) that out of 23 staff members employed by the management only 4 employees were members of the petitioner-Union and that the Union had no representative capacity to raise the dispute and (2) that the service of Arogyaswamy was terminated according to the Standing Orders of the mills. Mr. Mr. Dolia, learned Counsel for the petitioner, submitted that the Government was in error in refusing to make a reference on the ground that the Union was not representative in character in that only 4 employees out of 23 staff members were members of the petitioner-Union. He submitted that the Gcvernment had failed to note that 75 out of 350 workers had also filed a petition to the Government asking for a reference of the dispute for adjudication. Mr. Narayanaswami Ayyar, learned Counsel for the management, submitted that 4 employees out of 23 staff members or 75 workmen out of a total strength of 350 workmen cannot be said, to be representative. Regarding the representative character of the Union it has been held in Indian Cable Company Limited v. Its Workmen1, that no hard and fast rule could be laid down as to the number of workmen, whose association would convert an individual into an industrial dispute and that the question must depend on the facts of each case and the nature of the dispute and that the dispute must be one which affected the workmen as a class. Taking into consideration the nature of the dispute and the fact that 75 out of 350 employees signed a petition, it cannot be said that the petitioner-Union is not representative in character. The main question that arises for consideration is whether the order of the Government declining to refer the dispute for adjudication is illegal and whether a writ of mandamus should issue. The scope of reference of a dispute by the Government for adjudication under sections 2 (5) and 10 (1) of the Industrial Disputes Act has been dealt with in several decisions of this Court and the Supreme Court. Section 1? (5) of the Industrial Disputes Act provides that if on a consideration of the report of the Conciliation Officer the Government is satisfied that there is a case for reference to a Board, Labour Court, Tribunal, or National Tribunal, it may make such reference and that where the Government does not make such a reference it shall record and communicate to the parties concerned its reasons therefor. The power to make a reference is given in section 10 (1). The power to make a reference is given in section 10 (1). A Bench of this Court in State of Madras v. S.M.P. Labour Union2, dealing with the scope of section 12 (5) of the Industrial Disputes Act observed that the sub-section in express and unambiguous language provided that on a consideration of the report of the Conciliation Officer, the Government might make a reference or might refuse to make a reference and that the only requirement was that if it refused to make a reference it should record its reasons and communicate the same to the parties concerned. The Bench also held that merely because there was an industrial dispute or there was apprehension of an industrial dispute, it did not necessarily follow that the Government should make a reference. If that was so, the Court observed that section 32 (5) would be meaningless because the sub-section conferred a power on the Government to choose one of the two alternatives either to make or not to make a reference. In Madras State v. C.P. Sarathy3, it was held that the Government in making a reference under section 10 (1) of the Industrial Disputes Act was doing an administrative act and the fact that it had to form an opinion as to the preliminary step to the discharge of its function did not make it any the less administrative in character and that the Court could not therefore canvass the order of reference closely to see if there was any material before the Government to support its conclusion, as if it was a judicial or quasi-judicial determination. The Supreme Court further observed that if the dispute was an industrial dispute its factual existence and the expediency of making a reference in the circumstances of a particular case were matters entirely for the Government to decide upon, and it would not be competent for the Court to hold the reference bad and quash the proceedings for want of jurisdiction merely because there was, in its opinion, no material before the Government on which it could have come to an affirmative conclusion on those matters. In State of Bihar v. D.N. Ganguly4, the Supreme Court observed as follows at page 1021: “It is not in every case where the parties allege the existence of an industrial dispute that a reference would be made under section 10 (1); it is only where the test of subjective satisfaction of the appropriate Government is satisfied that the reference can be made. Thus it is clear that the appropriate Government is given an important voice in the matter of permitting industrial disputes to seek adjudication by reference to the Industrial Tribunal.” In State of Bombay v. Krishnan1, the Supreme Court observed: "The order passed by the Government under section 12 (5) may be an administrative order and the reasons recorded by it may not be justiciable in the sense that their propriety, adequacy or satisfactory character may not be open to judicial scrutiny, in that sense it would be correct to say that the Court hearing a petition for mandamus is not sitting in appeal over the decision of the Government nevertheless if the Court is satisfied that the reasons given by the Government for refusing to make a reference are extraneous and not germane, then the Court can issue, and would be justified in issuing a writ of mandamus even in respect of such an administrative order........ It may for instance be open to the Government in considering the question of expediency to enquire whether the dispute raises a claim which is very stale, or which is opposed to the provisions of the Act, or is inconsistent With any agreement between the parties, and if the Government comes to the conclusion that the dispute suffers from infirmities of this character, it may refuse to make the reference." In Bombay Union of Journalists v. State of Bombay2, the Supreme Court observed at page 355 as follows: "Besides, in dealing with this contention, it is necessary to remember that in entertaining an application for a writ of mandamus against an order made by the appropriate Government under section 10 ( 1) read with section 12 (5) the Court is not sitting in appeal over the order and is not entitled to. consider the propriety or the satisfactory character of the reasons given by the said Government. consider the propriety or the satisfactory character of the reasons given by the said Government. It would be idle to suggest that in giving reasons to a party for refusing to make a reference under section 12 (5), the appropriate Government has to write an elaborate order indicating exhaustively all the reasons that weighed in its mind in refusing to make a reference........ If it appears that the reasons given show that the appropriate Government took into account a consideration which was irrelevant or foreign that no doubt may justify the claim for a Writ of mandamus." A consideration of the authorities cited above makes it clear that the High Court cannot sit as a Court of appeal on the order passed by the Government. The Government in passing an order under section 10 (1) read with section 12 (5), is acting in an administrative character, and it has the option to make a reference or not to make a reference on the facts taking into consideration the expediency in each case the decision is for the Government to take and not for the Courts to interfere. The Government will be justified in refusing to make a reference where the dispute is inconsistent with the agreement between the parties. But the Court will be justified in issuing a writ of mandamus if the Government did not act bona fide or base its conclusions wholly on irrelevant or extraneous materials or materials which were not germane for deciding the question whether a reference should be made or not. Mr. Dolia the learned Counsel for the petitioner strongly relied on a decision of a Bench of this Court in Government of Madras v. Workmen of South India Saiva Siddhanta Works Publishing Society3, where it is stated thus at page 236: "Where therefore, the Union of workers takes up an individual dispute, no principle being involved therein, it will be for the Government to consider the merits of the case and decide whether it should refer the matter for adjudication under section 10 (1) or section 12 (5). If on the other hand, a question of principle is involved, like victimisation, unfair labour practice or the punishment of a worker without even an enquiry, it will be the duty of the Government to act under those provisions." It was submitted that it is the duty of the Government to act under the provisions of section 10 (1) and section 12 (5) if a worker is punished without an enquiry. The decision of the Bench of this Court in Government of Madras v. Workmen of South India Saiva Siddhanta Works Publishing Society3, was delivered on 22nd November 1963. The decision of the Supreme Court in Bombay Union of Journalists v. State of Bombay2, was delivered on 19th December, 1963. The Supreme Court has expressed its view that the Government is not bound to refer an industrial dispute even though one of the points raised in the dispute is in regard to contravention of a mandatory provision of the Act. At page 358 the Supreme Court has stated: "Even if the employer retrenches the workmen contrary to the provisions of section 25-F (c) it does not follow that a dispute resulting from such retrenchment must necessarily be referred for industrial adjudication. The breach of section 25-F (c) is no doubt a serious matter and normally the appropriate Government would refer a dispute of this kind for industrial adjudication, but the provisions-contained in section 10 (1) read with section 12 (5) clearly show that even where a breach of section 25-F is alleged, the appropriate Government may have to consider the expediency of making a reference and if after considering all the relevant facts the appropriate Government comes to the conclusion that it would be inexpedient to make the reference, it would be competent to it to refuse to make such a reference. We ought to add that when we are discussing this legal position we are necessarily assuming that the appropriate Government acts honestly and bona fide. We ought to add that when we are discussing this legal position we are necessarily assuming that the appropriate Government acts honestly and bona fide. If the appropriate Government refuses to make a reference for irrelevant considerations, or on extraneous grounds, or acts mala fide, that of course Would be another matter; in such a case a party would be entitled to move the High Court for a Writ of mandamus." The Supreme Court has laid down that even if there is a breach of the provisions of the Industrial Disputes Act, the Government is not bound to refer, and to this; extent the observation of the Madras High Court in Government of Madras v. Workmen of South India Saiva Siddhanta Works Publishing Society1, that it is the duty of the Government to act if a worker is punished without an enquiry may not be in accordance with the law declared by the Supreme Court. It may also be noted that the observations of the Bench of this Court in Government of Madras v. Workmen of South India Saiva Siddhanta Works Publishing Society1, are in the nature of obiter dicta, as in that case the Government had not recorded its reasons for its refusal to make a reference, and the Court held that it would be sufficient to support the writ issued by the trial Judge. It is settled law that if a termination of the service was a colourable exercise of the power or as a result of victimisation or unfair labour practice, the Industrial Tribunal would have the jurisdiction to intervene and set aside such a termination. The form of order in such a case is not conclusive and the Tribunal can go behind the order to find the reasons which led to the order and then consider for itself whether the termination was in colourable exercise of the power or as a result of victimisation or unfair labour practice. If the tribunal came to the conclusion that the termination was in colourable exercise of the power or as a result of victimisation or unfair labour practice, it can intervene and set aside the terminator. While the power of the Tribunal to interfere in the circumstances referred to above is not disputed, the duty of the Government to refer an industrial dispute under section 10 (1) read with section 12 (5) is based on different considerations. While the power of the Tribunal to interfere in the circumstances referred to above is not disputed, the duty of the Government to refer an industrial dispute under section 10 (1) read with section 12 (5) is based on different considerations. As the Government is acting in an administrative capacity, the right of this Court to issue a writ is limited. When the Government refuses to make a reference for irrelevant considerations or on extraneous grounds or acts mala fide, the Court may interfere. The Government declined to act in this case as it was reported that the set vice of Arogyaswamy was terminated according to the Standing Orders of the Mills. The Standing Orders of the respondent mills provide for termination of employment and notice thereof to be given by the employer to the employee. Standing Order 11 of the Mills reads as follows: "Subject to the provisions of any law for the time being in force, the employment of any workman may be terminated for a reasonable cause. The reasons for the termination of service shall be recorded in Writing and shall be communicated to the workman at the time of discharge." Standing Order 13 provides for suspension or dismissal for misconduct. In the case of dismissal for misconduct the workman concerned should be informed in writing of the alleged misconduct and given an opportunity to explain the circumstances against him. The Standing Orders of the Mills are certified under section 5 (3) of the Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Act, 1946 on 31st December, 1958. The Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Act, 1946 was enacted for requiring the employers in industrial establishments to define the conditions of employment under them. The Act provides for submission of the draft Standing Orders by the industrial establishment within six months from the date on which the Act becomes applicable to the industrial establishment. The Standing Orders are certifiable under the Act if provision is made for every matter set out in the Schedule to the Act which is applicable to the industrial establishment and when they are in conformity with the provisions of the Act. The certifying officer is empowered under an amendment of 1956 to adjudicate upon the fairness or reasonableness of the provisions of the Standing Orders. The certifying officer is empowered under an amendment of 1956 to adjudicate upon the fairness or reasonableness of the provisions of the Standing Orders. Item 8 of the schedule to the Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Act, 1946 empowers providing Standing Orders for termination of employment and the notice thereof to be given by employer and workmen. Item 9 relates to suspension or dismissal for misconduct and acts or omissions which constitute misconduct. Model Standing Orders have been framed by the Centra] Government and by the Madras Government. Rule 13 of the Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Central Rules, 1946 framed by the Central Government provides for terminating the employment of a permanent workman, on giving the prescribed notice, and rule 14 provides for taking disciplinary action for misconduct. Rule 17 of the Madras Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Rules, 1947 provides for termination of the employment of any permanent workman on giving the prescribed notice, while rule 20 provides for suspension or dismissal of a workman. It will thus be seen that provision is made under the Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Act for framing of Standing Orders for industrial establishments and for certification of them by the certifying authorities. The Model Standing Orders provide for termination of the service of a workman on giving the prescribed notice, and provision in the Standing Orders of the industrial establishments cannot be said to be violative of the principles of industrial law. Provision for terminating the service of an employee is found in other enactments such as section 41 of the Madras Shops and Establishments Act and section 19 of the Madras Catering Establishment Act, 1958. The Industrial Tribunal is empowered to interfere with the order of termination when the termination is not bona fide or is as a result of victimisation or unfair labour practice. But the duty of the Government under section 10 (1) and section 12 (5) of the Act to refer the matter for adjudication is administrative in character and if the Government declines to refer the dispute, the Court can only interfere when the Government had taken into account totally irrelevant or extraneous matters or acted mala fide. It was contended by the learned Counsel for the petitioner that the termination of the service of Arogyaswamy was in the nature of punishment for certain offences without enquiry and not termination under the Standing Orders. It was contended by the learned Counsel for the petitioner that the termination of the service of Arogyaswamy was in the nature of punishment for certain offences without enquiry and not termination under the Standing Orders. Whether the termination in a particular case was proper or whether it amounted to punishment without proper enquiry can be gone into by the Tribunal. But so far as the Government is concerned, it has a discretion to refer or not to refer for adjudication after taking into consideration all the circumstances of the case. If the Government was satisfied that the service of Arogyaswamy was terminated under the Standing Orders and declines to refer the dispute for adjudication as the claim is inconsistent with the agreement between the parties this Court cannot interfere, unless the refusal to refer the dispute is due to want of bona fides or due to taking into consideration irrelevant and extraneous matters. In this case there is nothing on record to show that the refusal by the Government to refer the dispute for adjudication was due to taking into account totally irrelevant or extraneous matters. In the result I hold that the petitioner has not made out a case for the issue of a writ of mandamus. The writ petition fails and is dismissed. No order as to costs. V.K. ----- Petition dismissed.