Research › Search › Judgment

Andhra High Court · body

2014 DIGILAW 762 (AP)

Yemmiganur Weavers Co-operative Production and Sales Society Ltd. , Kurnool District v. Second Appellant Authority under A. P. Shops and Establishments Act, 1988, Kurnool

2014-06-20

CHALLA KODANDA RAM, L.NARASIMHA REDDY

body2014
Judgment Challa Kodanda Ram, J. The petitioner in WP No. 17684 of 1999 is appellant. The writ petition was filed questioning the order dated 25.5.1999, passed by the 1st respondent in SA No. 4 of 1998, confirming the order dated 15.4.1998 of the 2nd respondent passed in SA No. 5 of 1997. 2. Briefly stated facts are that the 3rd respondent was appointed as a Personnel Officer by the appellant on 19.12.1991 on temporary basis and was kept on probation for a period of one year, or such other period as may be extended from time to time. After completion of one year, probation was extended for a further period of six months. The 3rd respondent was removed from service, through order dated 27.12.1993. He approached this Court by filing WP No. 20793 of 1993 and an order of interim suspension was passed in WPMP No. 26121 of 1993. Thereafter, the writ petition was disposed of without any relief. Thereby the order of tern1ination was enforced with effect from 1.2.1994. Once again 3rd respondent filed writ petition before this Court vide WP No. 6219 of 1994, and the said writ petition was disposed of through order dated 11.6.1997, by this Court directing the 3rd respondent to avail the alternative remedy by invoking provisions of the under A.P. Shops and Establishments Act, 1988 (for short "the Act"). The 3rd respondent approached the competent authority under the Act, who in turn set aside the order of termination and directed to reinstate the 3rd respondent apart from directing the payment of Rs. 1,76,000/-. The appeal filed by the writ petitioner before the 1st respondent 2nd appellate authority, ended in dismissal. Questioning the same the Writ Petition No. 17684 of 1999 was filed. The same was dismissed by the learned Single Judge on 21.1.2004 mainly on the ground that both the authorities under the Act concurrently found that the termination of the 3rd respondent was mala fide and without conducting enquiry, and that there is no irregularity or illegality in the orders passed by the authorities below. 3. Sri O. Manohar Reddy, learned Counsel for the appellant submits that the order of the learned Single Judge is unsustainable in law. 3. Sri O. Manohar Reddy, learned Counsel for the appellant submits that the order of the learned Single Judge is unsustainable in law. In his attack of the orders of the authorities below he urged three grounds viz., (1) The 3rd respondent being a Personnel Officer, was not an 'employee' within the definition under Section 2(8) of the Act, and his salary was also above is Rs. 2,500/- and thereby the Act has no application, on account of Section 73(1)(A) of the Act. (2) Even otherwise, the 3rd respondent is a Personnel Officer, who is in-charge and responsible for the entire personnel working in the organization, and was occupying managerial position; and when this objection was raised, the authority below had just referred to liberty given to the 3rd respondent to approach the authorities under the Act, in WP No. 6219 of 1994. He contends that the order in WP No. 6219 of 1994 has only disentitled the 3rd respondent to approach this Court directly and that it does not confer power upon the authority to entertain and pass orders, unless basic requirement of the 3rd respondent satisfying the eligibility criteria is fulfilled. (3) The appointment of 3rd respondent was on temporary basis and subject to successful completion of probation, and once the probation was not declared, he had no vested right to continue in service and the direction issued by the authorities is totally unsustainable. He submits that the question of violation of principles of natural justice do not arise, in the facts of the case, since the non-declaration of probation does not require issuance of notice. 4. On the other hand, learned Counsel for the 3rd respondent, Sri Ch. Satish Kumar, submitted that the orders of the authorities below as well as the learned Single Judge, that so far as first ground is concerned, it is not open for the appellant to contend that the authorities under the Act have no jurisdiction, in view of orders in WP No. 6219 of 1994 dated 11.6.1997. He further submits that though the 3rd respondent was given a designation of Personnel Officer, he was not in the managerial cadre and in fact he was taking the orders from the Secretary of the Society, who was the ultimate executive head, and in that view of the matter, exemption under Section 73 of the Act, has no application. He further submits that though the 3rd respondent was given a designation of Personnel Officer, he was not in the managerial cadre and in fact he was taking the orders from the Secretary of the Society, who was the ultimate executive head, and in that view of the matter, exemption under Section 73 of the Act, has no application. Learned Counsel would further submit that the 3rd respondent had worked for about two years without any blemish, and that itself would go to show that his probation is required to be declared. 5. We have considered the rival submissions in detail. Points 1 and 2 urged by the appellant cover the same aspect i.e. maintainability of the proceedings under the Act. We find it difficult to accept the contention of the appellant. In view of the orders of this Court in W.P. No. 6219 of 1994, it cannot be said that the authorities under the Act, have no jurisdiction to decide the issue. The appellant was a party to WP No. 6219 of 1994 and the orders therein are binding upon it. Though the 3rd respondent is designated as Personnel Officer, it is not established that he was discharging managerial functions. 6. So far as the aspect of non-declaration of probation is concerned, the 2nd respondent i.e., the primary authority did not understand the concept of the probation properly. The same is evident from the discussion in the order, (SA No. 5 of 1997) which read as under: "The contention of the Management that the termination order (Ex.A4) is discharge simpliciter or cannot be accepted as the performance of the appellant during the period of probation was not evaluated and also not produced before this Authority to know the genuineness or otherwise of the Management contention in terminating the service of the appellant. The impugned tem1ination is punitive in nature and has affected the civil rights of the appellant and gave a cause of action to agitate in the forum created under Section 48 of A.P.S.E. Act, 1988." 7. Once an order of termination simpliciter was issued, before declaration of probation, the question of there being any positive element does not arise. It is of the employers' right to decide whether or not to declare the probation. Much would depend upon the satisfactory nature of work of the employee. Once an order of termination simpliciter was issued, before declaration of probation, the question of there being any positive element does not arise. It is of the employers' right to decide whether or not to declare the probation. Much would depend upon the satisfactory nature of work of the employee. The very fact, the probation was extended for another six months would only go to show that the appellant chose to give some more time before they could make up their mind with regard to the suitability or otherwise of the 3rd respondent. Further, the occasion to invoke principles of natural justice does not arise in such cases. In the circumstances, the order of the learned Single Judge is liable to be set aside. 8. Accordingly, the writ appeal is allowed. The order in WP No. 17684 of 1999 is set aside and the writ petition is allowed setting aside the order passed by the 2nd respondent, as affirmed by the 1st respondent. There shall be no order as to costs. The miscellaneous petitions pending, if any, in this appeal, shall also stand disposed of.