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1987 DIGILAW 352 (BOM)

KRISHNA PARSHURAM TALASHILKAR v. RISHNARAO DODHUNADH KHARE

1987-10-06

H.H.KANTHARIA

body1987
JUDGMENT : Kantharia, J.—By this writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, the petitioner-workman challenges an order dated 11th March, 1985 (Exh.F to the petition) made by the Deputy Commissioner of Labour (Conciliation), Bombay District, Bombay, refusing to refer an industrial dispute with regard to the demand of the petitioner for his reinstatement with continuity of service and back wages. 2. The impugned order reads as under. "No. CL/IDE/AJD/2A/K-865(84)By.II A, Office of the Commissioner of Labour, Commerce Centre, Tardeo, Bombay-34. 11 March, 1985. From Shri K.D. Khare, The Dy. Commissioner of Labour (Con.), Bombay. To The Partner, The King Printing Press, 4/5, Crescent Chambers, Homi Modi Cross Lane, Fort, Bombay-23. Shri Krishna P. Talashilkar, C/o. Mumbai Kamgar Sabha, Nagindas Chambers, 167, P. D'Mello Road, Bombay-38. Subject:- Dispute between M/s. King Printing Press and Shri Krishna P. Talashilkar who was employed under it, over the latter's demand for reinstatement, etc. Sir, In exercise of the powers conferred on me by Government vide Government Notification, Industries, Energy and Labour Deptt. No. IDA 1379/3496(i) Lab-9, dated 20th April, 1979 issued in supersession of Government Notification, Industries, Energy and Labour Department No. IDA 1369/117365/Lab-2, dated 9th April, 1969, I have to state that I have considered the report dated 28-11-1984 submitted to me by the Conciliation Officer, under Sub-section (4) of Section 12 of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 (XIV of 1947), in respect of the above dispute and I am satisfied that there is no case for reference thereof under subsection (5) of Section 12 for the reasons that the workman has accepted all his legal dues including gratuity and retrenchment compensation without any protest and he has also since been gainfully employed in M/s. Raj Printers at Wadala, Bombay on the same wages which he was last drawing in the instant press at the instance of the Management of the instant Press and (2) that in the circumstances, it would not be expedient to grant the reference as it would be frivolous to do so. Yours faithfully ,br> Sd/- (K.D. Khare), Dy. Commissioner of Labour (Con.), Bombay District, Bombay. 3. In support of the petition Mr. Saiyed submits that the reasons given by the first respondent-Deputy Commissioner of Labour (Conciliation) for refusing to make a reference u/s 10(1) read with Section 12(5) of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 (hereinafter referred to as "the Act") are not adequate and acceptable. Commissioner of Labour (Con.), Bombay District, Bombay. 3. In support of the petition Mr. Saiyed submits that the reasons given by the first respondent-Deputy Commissioner of Labour (Conciliation) for refusing to make a reference u/s 10(1) read with Section 12(5) of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 (hereinafter referred to as "the Act") are not adequate and acceptable. In his submission, it is for the Labour Court or the Industrial Tribunal as the case may be to consider whether the petitioner is entitled to reinstatement and if so, with or without back wages and with or without continuity of service. This is an exclusive privilege of the Labour Court or Industrial Tribunal, now in view of introduction of Section 11A of the Act, further submits Mr. Saiyed. Mr. Nerlekar, learned Advocate appearing on behalf of the second respondent-employer, submits that no useful purpose would be served by ordering a. reference because the petitioner-workman is already gainfully employed and he had accepted all his legal dues and terminal benefits when he ceased to be in the employment of the second respondent. Mr. Gokhale, learned Assistant Government Pleader appearing on behalf of respondents No. 1 and 3, supports the impugned order in view of the fact that the concerned workman had accepted all his legal dues and terminal benefits and he is already gainfully employed now and, therefore, as was reasoned out by the first respondent the reference would be frivolous. 4. I am not able to persuade myself to agree with the submissions made by Mr. Nerlekar and Mr. Gokhale for the simple reason that, in my opinion, the reasons given by the first respondent to refuse a reference are not only inadequate but also not ac not mean that his services were legally terminated and that he would not be entitled to 'reinstatement. Acceptance of legal dues and terminal benefits cannot be a bar for the workman to raise a demand for his reinstatement with continuity of service and back wages if he is able to prove that his services were illegally terminated. It is further true that the petitioner-workman, when the impugned order was passed by the first respondent, was gainfully employed with M/s. Raj Printers at Wadala but it has been now pointed out by Mr. Saiyed that that was only for a limited period of about 8 to 9 months. It is further true that the petitioner-workman, when the impugned order was passed by the first respondent, was gainfully employed with M/s. Raj Printers at Wadala but it has been now pointed out by Mr. Saiyed that that was only for a limited period of about 8 to 9 months. If ultimately the petitioner-workman succeeds in the reference and if he is granted the relief of reinstatement ordinarily he would be entitled also to full back wages and when that is done whatever money that the workman had earned during his forced unemployment with the second respondent could be legitimately deducted. Therefore, it would not be a proper solution to the problem that at the initial stage itself the claim of the petitioner-workman should be closed and no reference should be made in his demand for reinstatement with continuity of service and full back wages. It is in this way that the impugned order passed by the first respondent suffers from errors apparent on the face of the record. 5. In this view of the matter, the petition succeeds and the same is allowed. The impugned order dated 11th March, 1985 (Exh. F to the petition) passed by the first respondent is quashed and set aside. Third respondent is directed to make a reference in the demand of the petitioner-workman u/s 10(1) read with Section 12(5) of the Act within a period of fifteen days from the receipt of the writ. 6. Rule is made absolute in the terms aforesaid but, in the circumstances of the case, with no order as to costs.