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1984 DIGILAW 1082 (ALL)

Kalpana Kala Kendra, Kanpur v. Employees' State Insurance Corporation

1984-12-15

A.BANERJI

body1984
JUDGMENT Per A. Benerji, J. - This is an appeal under Section 82 of the Employees State Insurance Act, 1948 by M/s. Kalpana Kala Kendra, Kanpur, hereinafter referred to as 'the appellant'. The appellant has been held to be running a factory as defined in Section 2(12) of the Employees' State Insurance Act, 1948, hereinafter referred to as 'the Act', by the Judge, Employees' Insurance Court, by its order dated 12.5.1977, whereby the appellant was held liable to pay a sum of Rs. 5,825.84 to the Employees' State Insurance Corporation. Aggrieved by the above order, the appellant has come to his Court. 2. The sole question for consideration is whether the appellant is a factory as defined in Section 2(12) of the Act and is liable to pay the contribution. 3. The relevant facts may be mentioned first. The appellant is a firm engaged in the preparation of greeting cards etc; for being marketed for sale. According to the appellant, greeting cards are hand-prepared for which no power is used except manual labour. The firm does not use any 'power' as defined in Section 2(g) of the Factories Act, which is applicable to the Act, also by virtue of the provisions of Section 2(12) of the Act. An Inspector of the 'Employees' State Insurance Corporation, hereinafter referred to as 'the Corporation' visited the premises of the firm and submitted a report that it was a factory, as power was being used therein. He also stated that there was 220 Volt. A.C. connection to the premises. A notice was thereafter issued to the firm, which is a proprietary firm run by Shri T.R. Batra. Shri T.R. Bats admitted that he had electric connection but electric power was not being used in the process of preparation of greeting cards, which was solely done by hand. The fact that there were more than 20 employees was admitted, but it was stated that the firm was neither a factory as defined in Section 2(12) of the Act nor were the provisions of the Act applicable to the firm and, as such, contribution asked for from the firm was unwarranted. 4. The matter came up before the Judge, Employees' Insurance Court, Kanpur. Shri T.R. Batra was examined on oath. He stated that the greeting cards were being prepared by hand and 'no power was being used'. 4. The matter came up before the Judge, Employees' Insurance Court, Kanpur. Shri T.R. Batra was examined on oath. He stated that the greeting cards were being prepared by hand and 'no power was being used'. However, during cross-examination he stated that domestic electric iron or iron using coal were sometimes used. The Corporation did not examine any one, not even the Inspector nor filed any documentary evidence in the proceeding before the said court except the Inspector's report and the reply by the proprietor Shri T.R. Batra. 5. The Employee's Insurance Court, Kanpur, held that although greeting cards were being prepared or made in the premises and more than twenty persons were engaged in doing so, the firm was a factory within the meaning of Sections 2(12) of the Act, as it was admitted by the proprietor Shri T.R. Batra that electric iron was used sometimes and that indicated that power was being used in the making of the cards. Consequently, the firm was held to be a factory and covered by the provisions of the Act and, as such, it was liable to pay the contribution. 6. In this appeal, Mr. J.N. Tiwari, learned counsel for the appellant contended that the Act had no application to the facts of the case and, as such, the contribution asked from it was unwarranted. Secondly, there was no evidence from the side of the Corporation to hold that electric power was being used by the firm in the process o manufacture and, as such, it could not be deemed to be a factory under section 2(12) of the Act. Thirdly, there war an error on the face of the record, inasmuch as the oral evidence of Shri T.R. Batra was misread and misconstrued to draw an inference that there was an admission that power was being used in the manufacture of the cards. 7. Learned counsel for the respondent Mr. B.N. Asthana contended that an appeal lies only on substantial question of law and the findings on questions of fact cannot be agitated in an appeal under Section 82 of the Act. According to him, the question whether power was being used or not in the manufacture of cards etc., could not be challenged in this appeal, for it did not raise any substantial, question of law. According to him, the question whether power was being used or not in the manufacture of cards etc., could not be challenged in this appeal, for it did not raise any substantial, question of law. Secondly, the term 'manufacturing process' as defined in the Factories Act, which was applicable to the Act as well, gave a wider meaning to the term than was understood in common parlance or in various other Statutes. The definition of the term 'manufacturing process' was sufficiently explained in Section 2(k) of the Factories Act and each of the words therein by itself is a 'manufacturing process'. Consequently, the work of ironing the silk material would come under the term 'finishing' or under the phrase 'otherwise treating' with a view to its use, sale, transport, delivery or disposal. Thirdly, he urged that ironing of cloth with the aid of power was manufacturing process, and in support of this contention he cited a decision of a Division Bench of Bombay High Court in M/s. Kalpana Dresses, v. E.S.I. Corpn (1), 1976 L.I.C 1791. 8. In considering the question that arises in this case, it will be necessary, to examine the definition of the word 'factory' as contained in Section 2(12) of the Act and the expression 'manufacturing process' and 'power' as contained in Section 2(k) and 2(g) of the Factories Act which are made applicable to the Act. The definition of 'factory' under the Act is different from the definition of the 'factory' in the Factories Act. Under the Act 'Factory.' means where twenty or more persons are employed on any day of the preceding twelve months, and in any cart of which a manufacturing process is being carried on with the aid of power or is ordinarily so carried on. The relevant words therefore are: "..a manufacturing process as being carried on with the aid of power or is ordinarily so carried on ..... 9. The first requisite is that there should be twenty or more persons engaged in the premises. Secondly, that there should be a manufacturing process and thirdly, that the said process should be carried on with the aid of power or is ordinarily so carried on. 'Power' has been defined, as seen above, in the Factories Act. Power is synonymous with electric energy or any other form of energy which is mechanically transmitted. Secondly, that there should be a manufacturing process and thirdly, that the said process should be carried on with the aid of power or is ordinarily so carried on. 'Power' has been defined, as seen above, in the Factories Act. Power is synonymous with electric energy or any other form of energy which is mechanically transmitted. Energy transmitted by human or animal agency is not power within the meaning of Section 2(g) of the Factories Act. 10. The expression 'manufacturing process' is very wide. 'Manufacturing process' means making any article or substance with a view to its use, sale, transport, delivery or disposal. If any article is made with a view to its use, sale, transport, delivery, it will come within the ambit of the expression 'manufacturing process'.- Similar is the position with' other words in sub-clause (1). The words 'making' altering, repairing, ornamenting, finishing, packing etc., each of them connotes a process. It is not necessary to associate any of them with another process to make a 'manufacturing process'. If any article is made or altered or repaired or ornamented that by itself would constitute a manufacturing process. But, it must be borne in mind that two things are essential. Firstly there should be 20 or more persons employed in the premises and secondly that there should be use of power as defined in Section 2(g) of the Act. 11. In the present case, the appellant's case is that greeting cards are prepared by hand and power is not used. Greeting cards are made either on paper or on cloth. The cutting of the cloth, the cutting of the paper or other similar material after making a drawing thereon or changing them or printing them by hand so long as power is not used does not make it a, manufacturing process. It is admitted that more than twenty persons are employed. Therefore, only question is whether power was an integral part of the manufacturing process of the greeting, cards etc., in the premises. 12. There is no doubt, a finding has been given by the Employees' Insurance Court that power was being used in the manufacturing process. It is correct that a finding of fact cannot ordinarily be challenged in an appeal under Section 82 of the Act, for normally it does not raise a substantial question of law. 12. There is no doubt, a finding has been given by the Employees' Insurance Court that power was being used in the manufacturing process. It is correct that a finding of fact cannot ordinarily be challenged in an appeal under Section 82 of the Act, for normally it does not raise a substantial question of law. The question whether power is an integral part of manufacturing process is a jurisdictional fact in the present case. If power is not used, the provisions of the Act would not be attracted, for it would not be a 'factory' within the meaning of Section 2(12) of the Act. In case, the finding is correct that power was being used, the question can no longer be agitated in this Court. A fact, which is a jurisdictional fact, if wrongly decided, can certainly be raised even in an appeal under Section 82 of the Act. In the case of Chaube Jagdish Prasad v. Ganga Prasad, A.I.R. 1959 S.C. 492, Their Lordships were considering the scope and ambit of Section 115 Civil Procedure Code and referred to the term jurisdictional fact. Their Lordships observed that if the subordinate Court decides a jurisdictional fact erroneously and thereby assumes jurisdiction not vested in it, or deprives itself of jurisdiction so vested then the power of interference under Section 115 Civil Procedure Code becomes operative. It is, therefore, relevant to find out whether the jurisdictional fact has been correctly determined or not in the present case. 13. There is no evidence on behalf of the Corporation that electric power was being used by the appellant in the manufacturing " of cards. The report of the Inspector does not indicate that electric power was being used in the manufacturing process, or in other words that aid of power was being taken in the manufacturing process. The report of the Inspector states: "The employer. has been using power vide par as 7 and 8 of the Annexure II though he succeeded to get his factory covered under Factories Act as one without power." In Annexure II none of the paragraphs are numbered, but 7th, 8th and 9th paragraph therein read as under: "The hot embossing machine does not contain any electric motor and it's plates are heated by coal for embossing purpose. We have.220 V current In the premises, We do not use electric Iron but we use iron heated, by coal for removing wrinkles from' siken cloth. We are not using industrial electric power in any part of our factory. We are covered under Factories Act since 1.4.1967 and out coverage under factories act is without power." 14. A perusal of the report of the Inspector and what it contained in Annexure-II does not indicate anywhere that electric power was being used in the process of manufacture of greeting cards etc. It was very clearly stated there that iron was being used for removing wrinkles, but it was stated that the said iron was heated by coal. It is, therefore, evident that what was being used for embossing purpose or for ironing was not power as defined under Section 2(g) of the Factories Act. In the cross examination of T.R. Batra, the statement which has been held to be an admission by the Court below is as follows: "Bijli ki Istree ya koiley ki Istree jo ghareloo kaam ki hoti hai kabhikabhi do-charr mahine me istemal hoti hai...". This has been construed by the Court below as containing an admission that electric iron is used once in two or four months. and, consequently, electric power was being used in manufacturing of the cards. Nothing further was elicited from Shri T.R. Batra in the corss-examination. No questions were asked as to In what stage electric iron was used and. for what purpose. There was no question as to whether it was used id the manufacturing process. On the contrary the subsequent question that we asked elicited the following reply.- "Mere factory mey koi part bijli ke power se na chalaya jeta hai our na kabhi manufacturing process mey power istemaal hota hai." The Employees' - Insurance Court has drawn the inference that power is occasionally used and that is sufficient to conclude that electric power was used as' an aid and the manufacturing process has a commencement and an an end. The placing of the raw materials with the employees is the commencement and the emergence of the finished product packed and ready for delivery, is the end of the manufacturing process. This entire process is the manufacturing process and it must be shown that use of power is an integral part of that manufacturing process. The placing of the raw materials with the employees is the commencement and the emergence of the finished product packed and ready for delivery, is the end of the manufacturing process. This entire process is the manufacturing process and it must be shown that use of power is an integral part of that manufacturing process. In other words, it is essential to show that power invariably used so as to complete the process before the product is finished or completed so that it may be marketed or sold or delivered for use. 15. Where the use of electric power is an integral part of the operation, it can be said that the manufacturing process is being carried on with the aid of power. For example, where a motor car is serviced in a garage, it involves three operations viz., Washing, cleaning and oiling, each of which is by itself a manufacturing process. See Gateway Auto Service v. The Director, Employees' State Insurance Corporation, 1981 Lab. I.C. 49. Where steam is used for drying printing materials on cloth, it amounts to a manufacturing process with the aid of Dower. Similarly, use of electric energy For ironing of cloth is also a manufacuring process to attract the provisions of the Act. See Usha Prints India Ltd. v. The Employees' State Insurance Corporation and another A.I.R. 1964 Bom. 84, Where grooves are cut on bangle, it amounts to ornamentation of bangle and was held to be a manufacturing process within the meaning of Section 2(k) of the Factories Act. See K.H. Paniani v. State of Uttar Pradesh and another, AIR 1959 All 24 . 16. Ironing on cloth with the aid of power has ben held to be a manufacturing process in the case of M/s. Kalpana Dresses Bombay v. Employees' State Insurance Corporation, (1976) Lab. I.C. 1791. In this case, it was held: "A readymade garment must be ironed properly before it can be sold in the market. As it is a process of treating the article, it must be held that a manufacturing is carried on with the aid of... " There can, therefore, be no manner of doubt that if the use of electric power as an aid in the manufacturing process is an integral part there, it will be held that it is a factory within the meaning of Section 2(12) of the Act. " There can, therefore, be no manner of doubt that if the use of electric power as an aid in the manufacturing process is an integral part there, it will be held that it is a factory within the meaning of Section 2(12) of the Act. What is, therefore essential to be established is the use of the electric power or mechanical power in the manufacturing process without which the process will not be complete. I am, therefore, of the view that in the present case the use of electric power was not an integral part of manufacturing process viz., making of greeting cards. The court, therefore, wrongly decided the jurisdictional fact and assumed jurisdiction to hold that petitioner's firm was a factory within the meaning of Section 2(12) of the Act. 17. I am conscious of the fact that the Act has been enacted for giving certain benefits to the employees of a factory and it is a legislation for the betterment of service conditions of the employees. I am also conscious of the fact that widest amplitude should be given to the expressions used in the Act so that the employees may be benefited. The definition of a factory under the Act is applicable when the factory employs 20 or more persons and carries on manufacturing process with the aid of power. The employment of twenty or more persons by itself would not make it a factory unless the aid of power is taken in the manufacturing process. Where aid of power is not an integral part in the manufacturing process at all, such a place of employment would not be deemed to be a 'factory' within the meaning of Section 2(12) of the Act and as such the Act was not applicable to the said premises. Consequently the demand for contribution from the appellant was uncalled for and must be set aside. 18. In the result, therefore, the appeal is allowed. The order dated 12.5.1977 mending contribution is also set aside passed by the Judge, Employees' Insurance Court is set aside. Notice demanding contributing is also set aside. There will be no order as to costs.