Ashwani Kumar and Others v. Presiding Officer and Others

INoTHEoHIGHoCOURToOFoPUNJABoANDoHARYANAoATo CHANDIGARHo oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooCWP-14345-2014o(O&M)ooo DateoofoDecision:o12.10.2023o o o ASHWANIoKUMARoANDoOTHERSo o o o o o o o o o …Petitionerso o Versuso PRESIDINGoOFFICER,oCENTRALoGOVT.oINDUSTRIALo TRIBUNAL-CUM-LABOURoCOURT-1,oCHANDIGARHoo ANDoOTHERSo o o o o o o o o oooooooooo…Respondentso o CORAM:oo HON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoHARSHoBUNGERo Presento:o Mr.oAshwanioBakshi,oAdvocateo o o forotheopetitioners.oo o o o Mr.oAniloRathee,oAdvocateo o o fororespondentsoNo.2otoo4.o o HARSHoBUNGER,oJ.ooo

1.o o Petitionerso(AshwanioKumaroandoothers)ohaveofiledotheoinstanto writopetitionounderoArticleo226oofotheoConstitutionoofoIndia,oseekingoissuanceo ofoaowritoinotheonatureoofocertiorariforoquashingotheoAwardodatedo26.09.2013o (Annexureo P-18)o passedo byo respondento No.1-Presidingo Officer,o Centralo GovernmentoIndustrialoTribunal-cum-LabouroCourt-Io(foroshorto`theoCGIT'),o Chandigarh,owherebyotheoreferenceoofoindustrialodisputeohasobeenodecidedo againstothem.o

2.o o Briefly,otheopetitionersoraisedoanoindustrialodispute,owhichowaso referredoforoadjudicationotootheoCGIT,oChandigarh.oTheosaidoreferenceocameo toobeodecidedovideoAwardodatedo27.04.2010o(AnnexureoP-16)oagainstotheo workmen;ohowever,otheosameowasochallengedobeforeothisoCourtobyowayoofo filingo CWP-10665-2011o byo theo petitioners-workmeno herein.o Theoooooooooooooooo afore-saidowritopetitiono(CWP-10665-2011)ocameotoobeodecidedobyothisoCourtooooooooooooooooGURPREET KAUR videoorderodatedo23.05.2013oandotheomatterowasoremandedoforofreshodecision.o Accordingly,ouponoremand,otheomatterowasotakenoupobyotheolearnedoTribunalo below.o

3.o o Inotheoclaimopetitionofiledobyotheopetitioners,oitowasostatedothato theyo wereo appointedo aso Labourer(s)o ono differento dateso (aso detailedo ino Annexureo P-1)o duringo 1994-1998o undero theo Chiefo Generalo Managero Telecom,oPunjaboTelecomoCircle,oChandigarh;ohowever,otheiroservicesowereo terminatedoono27.02.1999owithoutoanyonoticeoandowithoutoanyocompensation,o ino violationo ofo Sectiono 25-Fo ofo theo Industrialo Disputeso Act.o Petitionerso claimedothatotheyohadoalreadyocompletedo240odays.oTheyofurtheroclaimothato thougho theiro appointmento waso showno too beo madeo througho ao Contractor,o whichowasoaoshamotransactionoandotheyo wereoworkingodirectlyounderotheo supervisionoandocontroloofotheodepartmentoandotheoworkoonowhich,otheyowereo engaged,owasoofoperennialonature.oPetitionersoclaimedothatotheirocaseowaso squarelyocoveredobyotheojudgmentorenderedobyotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourto inotheocaseoofoAiroIndiaoStatutoryoCorporationovsoUnitedoLabouroUnionoando otherso1997(9)oSCCo377.oItowasoalsooclaimedobyotheopetitionersothatoafterotheo terminationoofotheiroservices,onewo appointmentsohaveo beeno madeo withouto offeringothemanyoopportunityoforofurtheroemploymentoandothus;oitowasotheo violationo ofo Sectiono 25-Ho ofo theo Industrialo Disputeso Act,o aso well.o Accordingly,otheopetitionersosoughtore-instatementowithocontinuityoofoserviceo alongowithofullobackowages.o

4.o o Theo afore-saido claimo ofo theo petitionerso waso contestedo byo theo respondent-Management/department;o wherein,o ano objectiono waso raisedoooooooooooooooo thatootheoodepartmentoowasoonotooanooindustryooandoowasonotogovernedounderotheoo IndustrialoDisputesoActoandoalsoothatotheoDepartmentoofoTelecomoServiceso wasonoolongeroinoexistenceoasoaoPublicoSectoroUndertaking,oknownoaso`Bharato SancharoNigamoLimited'o(BSNL)owasoconstitutedow.e.f.o01.10.2000oandoaso such,otheoclaimopetitionowasonotomaintainable.oItowasotheocategoricopleaoofotheo respondent-departmento thato theo petitionerso wereo neithero engagedo noro recruitedo byo theo management/Departmento ando theyo wereo alsoo noto theo Membersoofotheoservice.oItowasostatedothatonooappointmentoletterowasoissuedo noro theo serviceso ofo theo petitionerso wereo terminatedo byo theo management/o Departmento ando eveno noo paymento waso madeo too theo petitionerso byo theo respondent-Management/Department.o Ito waso pleadedo byo theo management/o Departmentothatoitohadoenteredointooaocontractowithoaocontractoroforosupplyoofo labour/manopoweroforotheoperformanceoofoemergencyoworkoinotheodepartmento andothatotheyowereonotoawareoaboutotheopetitionersoasotoowhetherotheyowereo suppliedotootheodepartmentobyotheocontractor.oItowasospecificallyostatedobyotheo departmentothatotheopetitionersohereinohaveonotoproducedoanyorecord/letterotoo proveo thato theyo wereo appointedo byo theo respondent-department;o thus,o theo relationshipoofotheoemployeeoandoemployerobetweenotheopetitionersoandotheo respondent-departmentowasodisputed.oItowasoalsoodisputedothatotheopetitionerso hadocompletedo240odaysowithotheodepartmentoofoTelecommunications.oItowaso alsoo deniedo byo theo respondent-departmento thato anyo newo appointmento haso beenomade;oaccordingly,oprayeroforodismissaloofotheoclaimopetitionowasomade.oo

5.o o Afteroconsideringotheocaseoofotheorespectiveopartiesoandoalsootheo evidence/materialoavailableoonotheorecord,otheolearnedoTribunalobelowovideo impugnedoAwardodatedo26.09.2013o(AnnexureoP-18)oansweredotheoreferenceo againstotheopetitioners-workmenobyoholdingothatotheoworkmenohadofailedotoo establishorelationshipoofoemployeeoandoemployerobetweenotheopetitionersoando theorespondent-department.oo

6.o o Inotheoafore-mentionedocircumstances,otheoinstantowritopetitiono hasobeenofiledobeforeothisoCourt.o

7.o o Learnedo counselo foro theo petitionerso submitso thato theo learnedo TribunalobelowohasoerredoinopassingotheoimpugnedoAward.oItoisosubmittedo thatotheolearnedoTribunalobelowohasofailedotooconsideroandoappreciateotheo evidenceoavailableoonotheorecordoandohasowronglyoheldothatotheopetitionerso haveofailedotooproveotheorelationshipoofoemployeeoandoemployerobetweeno themoandotheomanagement/Department.oItoisosubmittedothatothereowasoenougho evidenceoonotheorecordotooproveothatotheopetitioners-workmenowereoworkingo foro theo respondent-departmento undero theo controlo ando supervisiono ofo itso officersoandopaymentoofoitsowagesowasoalsoomadeotoothemobyotheodepartmento officials.o Ito iso submittedo thato theo allegedo agreemento propoundedo byo theo respondent-departmento iso ao mereo camouflageo ando eveno otherwise,o theo originaloofotheocontractowasonotoproducedoonotheorecord.oItoisosubmittedothato eveno ifo theo pleao ofo theo managemento iso too beo acceptedo thato thereo waso ao contractowithotheocontractor,oevenothenothereoisonothingoonorecordotooshowo thato theo departmento aso wello aso theo contractoro wereo registeredo witho theo competentoauthority,oinotermsoofotheoprovisionsocontainedoinotheoContracto LabouroRegulationoandoAbolitionoAct,o1970o(inoshorto`theoAct,o1970').oItoiso submittedothatotheomanagementohadofailedotooproduceotheooriginalorecordoando inotheoabsenceoofotheosame,otheopetitioners-workmenooughtotoohaveobeenoheldo too beo theo employeeso ofo theo respondent-department.o Ito is,o accordingly,o contendedoothatootheooservicesooofootheoopetitionersoohaveoobeenoooterminatedoooinoo violationo ofo theo provisionso ofo theo Industrialo Disputeso Act;o hence,o theo impugnedoawardoisoliableotoobeosetoasideoandoanoappropriateodirectionobeo issuedo foro directingo re-instatemento ofo theo petitionerso witho continuityo ofo serviceoandofullobackowages.o

8.o o Ono theo othero hand,o learnedo counselo foro theo respondent-management/Departmento haso opposedo theo submissionso madeo byo learnedo counselo foro theo petitionerso ando haso submittedo thato theo onuso too proveo theo relationshipoofoemployeroandoemployeeoasowelloasotheoonusotooproveothatotheo petitionersohadoworkedoforo240odaysoinotheolasto12ocalendaromonthsoprecedingo theodateoofotheoallegedoterminationoisoonotheoworkmen,oinotermsoofoSectiono 25-Bo ofo theo Industrialo Disputeso Act.o Ito iso submittedo thato theo petitioners-workmenohadofailedotoodischargeotheosaidoonusoandoapartofromotheirobaldo statement,othereoisonothingoonorecordotooevenoindicateothatotheyowereoevero employedo byo theo management/Department.o Learnedo counselo foro theo respondent-management/Departmentohasoreferredotootheocross-examinationo ofo petitionero No.1-Ashwanio Kumaro too contendo thato theo statemento ofo theo petitioneroinohisocross-examinationohasocompletelyodemolishedohisoownocaseo asoheohasoclearlyoadmittedothatoheohasonoodocumentoinohisopossessionotooshowo thatoheowasoappointedobyotheorespondent-department.oLearnedocounseloforotheo respondentsofurtherosubmitsothatoasoregardsotheopleaoofotheopetitionersothatotheo departmentoasowelloasotheocontractorowasonotoregisteredounderotheoAct,o1970,o theosameohasonoorelevance,oespeciallyoinoviewoofotheofactothatotheoonusotoo proveo theo relationshipo betweeno theo petitionerso ando theo management/Departmento waso ono theo workmen,o whicho haso noto beeno discharged.o Ito iso contendedo thato eveno ifo theo departmento aso wello aso theo contractorowereonotoregisteredounderotheoAct,o1970,oevenothenoatobest,oonlyo penaloclausesocanobeoinvokedoagainstothemoandotheosameowouldonotoentitleo theopetitionersotooclaimoautomaticoabsorptionoinotheodepartment.oItoisoalsoo contendedothatotheopetitionersohadofailedotoogiveotheodetailsoofoanyopersono appointedobyowayoofonewoappointmentosooasotooclaimothatothereoisoaoviolationo ofo theo provisionso ofo Sectiono 25-Ho ofo theo Industrialo Disputeso Act.o Accordingly,oprayerohasobeenomadeoforodismissaloofotheoinstantowritopetition.o

9.o o Iohaveoheardolearnedocounseloforotheopartiesoandohaveoperusedo theopaperobookowithotheiroableoassistance.oo

10.o o Itoisowellosettledolawothatotheoonusotooproveotheorelationshipoofo employeeoandoemployerobetweenotheoworkmanoandotheoManagementoisoupono theo workmano byo adducingoevidenceo inotheo formo ofo appointmento letterooro recordoofotheoengagementoofoworkmanobyoManagementoforo240odaysooromoreo inoaoCalendaroyearoprecedingotheodateoofoterminationoorosuchoevidenceoinotheo formooforeceiptoofosalaryoforo240odaysoetc.o

11.o o Comingotootheocaseoinohand,oIohaveogoneothroughotheocross-examinationoofopetitioneroNo.1-AshwanioKumar,owhereinoheohadostatedothato heohasonoodocumentoinohisopossessionotooshowoappointmentomadeobyoanyo officeroofotheodepartment.oHeofurtheroadmittedothatoheoisonotohavingoinohiso possessionocertificateooroanyootherodocumentotooshowohisoemploymentofromo

06.03.1996otoo27.02.1999owithotheomanagement.oItoisoalsoosubmittedobyohimo thatoneitheroheoisohavingoanyodocumentotooshowothatotheowagesowereopaidotoo himo(workman)odirectlyobyoanyoofficeronorotheoterminationoletterowasogiveno toohim.oo

12.o o Ao perusalo ofo theo afore-saido cross-examinationo ofo petitioner-AshwanioKumarowouldomanifestothatoheohadoclearlyoadmittedothatoheohadonoo documento ino hiso possessiono too showo thato heo waso appointedo byo theo department.o Heo furthero admittedo thato heo hado noo documento too showo hiso employmento fromo 06.03.1996o too 27.02.1999o witho theo management/Department.o Petitionero haso furthero admittedo thato heo haso noto broughtoanyodocumentotooshowohisoperformanceoofoduties,oasoclaimedobyohimo andoneither,odidoheopossessoanyodocumentotooshowothatotheowagesowereopaido toohimodirectlyobyoanyoofficer.oPetitionerofurtherodidonotoproduceoanyodutyo chartotoosupportohisopleadedostand.oItowasoalsooadmittedobyotheopetitionerothato noo terminationo lettero waso giveno too him.o Theo petitionero furthero failedo too produceo anyo seniorityo listo ofo theo labourso engagedo noro heo couldo giveo theo namesoofoanyojunior(s)oretainedoororegularized.oo

13.o o Onceotheopetitionersohaveonotoprovedoonotheorecordothatotheyo wereo employedo byo theo departmento oro theyo wereo paido wageso byo theo departmento oro anyo othero documento too showo theiro employmento witho theo department,oitocannotobeoheldothatothereowasoaorelationshipoofoemployeeoando employerobetweenotheopetitionersoandotheomanagement/Department.oItoisowello settledopositionoofolawothatomereoaffidavitooroself-servingostatementomadeobyo theo claimant/workmeno willo noto sufficeo ino theo mattero ofo dischargeo ofo theo burdenoplacedobyolawoonotheoworkmenotooproveothatotheyohadoworkedoforoo 240odaysoinoaogivenoyearoorothereoisoaorelationshipoofoemployeeoandoemployero betweenotheoworkmenoandotheoManagement.oInothisoregard,oreferenceocanobeo madeotootheojudgmentorenderedobyoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoofoIndiaoinotheo caseoofoMunicipaloCorpn.ov.oSiriNiwas,o2004(4)oS.C.T.o211,owherein,otheo Hon'bleoApexoCourtoheldoasounder:o "12.oTheoprovisionsoofotheoIndianoEvidenceoActoperoseoareo notoapplicableoinoanoindustrialoadjudication.oTheogeneralo principleso ofo ito are,o however,o applicable.o Ito iso alsoo imperativeo foro theo Industrialo Tribunalo too seeo thato theo principleso ofo naturalo justiceo areo compliedo with.o Theo burdenoofoproofowasoonotheorespondentohereinotooshowo thato heo hado workedo foro 240o dayso ino precedingo twelveo monthso prioro too hiso allegedo retrenchment.o Ino termso ofo Sectiono 25Fo ofo theo Industrialo Disputeso Act,o 1947,o ano ordero retrenchingo ao workmano wouldo noto beo effectiveo unlesso theo conditionso precedento thereforo areo satisfied.o Sectiono 25-Fo postulateso theo followingo conditionso too beo fulfilledobyoemployeroforoeffectingoaovalidoretrenchmento:o

(i)o oneo month'so noticeo ino writingo indicatingo theo reasonsofororetrenchmentoorowagesoinolieuothereofo:o

(ii)opaymentoofocompensationoequivalentotoofifteeno dayso averageo payo foro everyo completedo yearo ofo continuousoserviceooroanyopartothereofoinoexcessoofo sixomonths.o

13.o Foro theo saido purposeo ito iso necessaryo too noticeo theo definitionoofo'ContinuousoService'oasocontainedoinoSectiono 25-BoofotheoAct.oInotermsoofosub-sectiono(2)oofoSectiono25-Bothatoifoaoworkmanoduringoaoperiodoofotwelveocalendaro monthso precedingo theo dateo witho referenceo too whicho calculationoisotoobeomade,ohasoactuallyoworkedounderotheo employero240odaysowithinoaoperiodoofooneoyear,oheowillobeo deemedotoobeoinocontinuousoservice.oByoreasonoofotheosaido provision,o thus,o ao legalo fictiono iso created.o Theo retrenchmentoofotheorespondentotookoplaceoono17.5.1995.o Foro theo purposeo ofo calculatingo aso too whethero heo hado workedoforoaoperiodoofo240odaysowithinooneoyearooronot,oito was,otherefore,onecessaryoforotheoTribunalotooarriveoatoao findingoofofactothatoduringotheoperiodobetweeno5.8.1994otoo

16.5.1995oheohadoworkedoforoaoperiodoofomoreothano240o days.oAsonoticedohereinbefore,otheoburdenoofoproofowaso onotheoworkman.oFromotheoAwardoitodoesonotoappearothato theo workmano adducedo anyo evidenceo whatsoevero ino supporto ofo hiso contentiono thato heo compliedo witho theo requirementsoofoSectiono25BoofotheoIndustrialoDisputeso Act.o Aparto fromo examiningo himselfo ino supporto ofo hiso contentionoheodidonotoproduceoorocalloforoanyodocumento fromo theo officeo ofo theo Appellanto hereino includingo theo musterorolls.oItoisoimprobableothatoaopersonoworkingoinoao Localo Authorityo wouldo noto beo ino possessiono ofo anyo documentaryo evidenceo too supporto hiso claimo beforeo theo Tribunal.oApartofromomusterorollsoheocouldohaveoshowno theotermsoandoconditionsoofohisoofferoofoappointmentoando theoremunerationoreceivedobyohimoforoworkingoduringotheo aforementionedo period.o Heo eveno dido noto examineo anyo otherowitnessoinosupportoofohisocase.oo

14.oAoCourtoofoLawoevenoinoaocaseowhereoprovisionsoofo theoIndianoEvidenceoActoapply,omayopresumeooromayonoto presumeo thato ifo ao partyo despiteo possessiono ofo theo besto evidenceohadonotoproducedotheosame,oitowouldohaveogoneo againstohisocontentions.oTheomatter,ohowever,owouldobeo differentowhereodespiteodirectionobyoaocourtotheoevidenceo isowithheld.oPresumptionoasotooadverseoinferenceoforonon-productionoofoevidenceoisoalwaysooptionaloandooneoofotheo factorsowhichoisorequiredotoobeotakenointooconsiderationo ino theo backgroundo ofo factso involvedo ino theo lis.o Theo presumption,o thus,o iso noto obligatoryo becauseo notwithstandingo theo intentionalo non-production,o othero circumstanceso mayo existo upono whicho sucho intentionalo non-productionomayobeofoundotoobeojustifiableoonosomeo reasonableo grounds.o Ino theo instanto case,o theo Industrialo Tribunalodidonotodrawoanyoadverseoinferenceoagainstotheo Appellant.o Ito waso withino itso jurisdictiono too doo soo particularlyohavingoregardotootheonatureoofotheoevidenceo adducedobyotheoRespondent.oo

15.oNooreasonohasobeenoassignedobyotheoHighoCourtoasotoo whyo theo exerciseo ofo discretionalo jurisdictiono ofo theo Tribunalowasobadoinolaw.oInoaocaseoofothisonature,oitoiso trite,o theo Higho Courto exercisingo theo powero ofo judicialo review,o wouldo noto interfereo witho theo discretiono ofo ao Tribunalo unlesso theo sameo iso foundo too beo illegalo oro irrational…"o

14.o o Further,oinotheocaseoofoSurendranagaroDistrictoPanchayatov.o DahyabhaioAmarsinh,o2005(8)oSCCo750,oHon'bleApexoCourtoheldoasounder:o "19.oInotheolightoofotheoaforesaid,oitowasonecessaryoforotheo workmanotooproduceotheorelevantomaterialotooproveothato heohaso actuallyo workedo withotheo employeroforonoto lesso thano240odaysoduringotheoperiodotwelveocalendaromonthso precedingotheodateoofotermination.oWhatoweofindoisothato aparto fromo theo oralo evidenceo theo workmano haso noto producedo anyo evidenceo too proveo theo facto thato heo haso workedoforo240odays.oNooproofooforeceiptoofosalaryooro wageso oro anyo recordo oro ordero ino thato regardo waso produced;o noo co-workero waso examined;o mustero rollo producedobyotheoemployerohasonotobeenocontradicted.oItoiso improbableothatoworkmanowhooclaimedotoohaveoworkedo witho theo appellanto foro sucho ao longo periodo wouldo noto possessoanyodocumentaryoevidenceotooproveonatureoofohiso engagementoandotheoperiodoofoworkoheohadoundertakeno withohisoemployer.oTherefore,oweoareoofotheoopinionothato theoworkmanohasofailedotoodischargeohisoburdenothatoheo wasoinoemploymentoforo240odaysoduringotheoprecedingo12o monthso ofo theo dateo ofo terminationo ofo hiso service.o Theo Courtsobelowohaveowronglyodrawnoanoadverseoinferenceo forononoproductionoofotheorecordoofotheoworkmanoforoteno years.oTheoscopeoofoenquiryobeforeotheoLabouroCourtowaso confinedo too onlyo 12o monthso precedingo theo dateo ofo terminationo too decideo theo questiono ofo continuationo ofo serviceoforotheopurposeoofoSectiono25FoofotheoIndustrialo DisputesoAct.oTheoworkmanohasoneverocontendedothatoheo wasoregularlyoemployedoinotheoPanchayatoforooneoyearotoo claimo theo uninterruptedo periodo ofo serviceo aso requiredo underoSectionoo25B(1)oofotheoAct.oInotheofactoandosituationoo andoinotheolightoofotheolawoonotheosubject,oweofindothatotheo workman-respondentoisonotoentitledoforotheoprotectionooro complianceoofoSectiono25FoofotheoActobeforeohisoserviceo waso terminatedo byo theo employer.o Aso regardso non-complianceoofoSectionso25Goando25Hosufficeoisotoosayothato witnesso Vinodo Mishrao examinedo byo theo appellanto haso statedo thato noo seniorityo listo waso maintainedo byo theo departmento ofo dailyowagers.o Inotheo absenceooforegularo employmento ofo theo workman,o theo appellanto waso noto expectedo too maintaino seniorityo listo ofo theo employeeso engagedoonodailyowagesoandoinotheoabsenceoofoanyoproofo byotheorespondentoregardingoexistenceoofotheoseniorityolisto andohisosoocalledoseniorityonooreliefocouldobeogivenotoohimo foronon-complianceoofoprovisionsoofotheoAct.oTheoCourtso couldo haveo drawno adverseo inferenceo againsto theo appellantoonlyowhenoseniorityolistowasoprovedotoobeoino existenceo ando theno noto producedo beforeo theo Court.o Ino orderotooentitleotheoCourtotoodrawoinferenceounfavourableo tootheoparty,otheoCourtomustobeosatisfiedothatoevidenceoiso inoexistenceoandocouldohaveobeenoproved…"o

15.o o Aso regardso theo contentiono regardingo non-registrationo ofo theo contractoroasowelloasotheodepartmentounderotheoAct,o1970oisoconcerned,otheo saidoissueoisonoomoreoresointegraoasotheopositionostandsosettledobyotheoHon'bleo SupremeoCourtobyoauthoritativeojudgmentoinotheocaseoofo"SteeloAuthorityoofo Indiao Ltd.o v.o Nationalo Uniono Watero Fronto Workers",o 2001(4)o SCTo 1,o whereinotheofollowingofindingsowereoreturned:o-oo "124.oTheoupshotoofotheoaboveodiscussionoisooutlinedothuso:o

(1)o(a)oBeforeoJanuaryo28,o1986,otheodeterminationoofotheo questiono whethero Centralo Governmento oro theo Stateo GovernmentoisotheoappropriateoGovernmentoinorelationotoo anoestablishment,owillodepend,oinoviewoofotheodefinitionoofo theoexpressiono"appropriateoGovernment"oasostoodoinotheo CLRAo Act,o ono theo answero too ao furthero question,o iso theo industryounderoconsiderationocarriedoonobyoorounderotheo authorityoofotheoCentraloGovernmentoorodoesoitopertainotoo anyospecifiedocontrolledoindustry;oorotheoestablishmentoofo anyorailway,ocantonmentoboard,omajoroport,omineoorooilo fieldo oro theo establishmento ofo bankingo oro insuranceo companyo?oIfotheoansweroisoinotheoaffirmative,otheoCentralo Governmento willo beo theo appropriateo Government;o otherwiseo iso relationo too anyo othero establishmento theo GovernmentoofotheoStateoinowhichotheoestablishmentowaso situated,owouldobeotheoappropriateoGovernment.o

(b)oAfterotheosaidodateoinoviewoofotheonewodefinitionoofothato expression,otheoanswerotootheoquestionoreferredotooabove,o hasotoobeofoundoinoclauseo(a)oofoSectiono2ooofotheoIndustrialo Disputeso Act,o ifo (i)o theo concernedo Centralo Governmento company/undertakingo oro anyo undertakingo iso includedo thereinoeoonomine,ooro(ii)oanyoindustryoisocarriedoono(a)obyo orounderotheoauthorityoofotheoCentraloGovernment,ooro(b)o byo railwayo company;o oro (c)o byo specifiedo controlledo industry,o theno theo Centralo Governmento willo beo theo appropriateo Governmento otherwiseo ino relationo too anyo otheroestablishment,otheoGovernmentoofotheoStateoinowhicho thato othero establishmento iso situated,o willo beo theo appropriateoGovernment.o

(2)o(a)oAonotificationounderoSectiono10(1)oofotheoCLRAoActo prohibitingoemploymentoofocontractolabouroinoanyoprocess,o operationoorootheroworkoinotheoanyoestablishmentohasotoobeo issuedobyotheoappropriateoGovernmento:o

(1)oafteroconsultingowithotheoCentraloAdvisoryoBoardooro theoStateoAdvisoryoBoard,oasotheocaseomayobe,oand;o

(2)ohavingoregardotooo

(i)o conditionso ofo worko ando benefitso providedo foro theo contractolabouroinotheoestablishmentoinoquestion;oando

(ii)o othero relevanto factorso includingo thoseo mentionedo ino sub-sectiono(2)oofoSectiono10;o

(b)oinasmuchoasotheoimpugnedonotificationoissuedobyotheo Centralo Governmento ono Decembero 9,o 1976o doeso noto satisfyo theo aforesaido requirementso ofo Sectiono 10o ito iso quashedobutoweodoosooprospectivelyoi.e.ofromotheodateoofo thisojudgmentoandosubjectotootheoclarificationothatoonotheo basisoofothisojudgmentonooorderopassedooronooactionotakeno givingoeffectotootheosaidonotificationoonoorobeforeotheodateo ofo thiso judgment,o shallo beo calledo ino questiono ino anyo tribunalo oro courto includingo ao Higho Courto ifo ito haso otherwiseo attainedo finalityo and/oro ito haso beeno implemented.o

(3)oNeitheroSectiono10oofotheoCLRAoActonoroanyoothero provisionoinotheoAct,owhetheroexpresslyoorobyonecessaryo implication,o provideso foro automatico absorptiono ofo contractolabouroonoissuingoaonotificationobyoappropriateo Governmento undero sub-sectiono (1)o ofo Sectiono 10,o prohibitingo employmento ofo contracto labour,o ino anyo process,ooperationoorootheroworkoinoanyoestablishment.o Consequentlyotheoprincipaloemployerocannotobeorequiredo tooorderoabsorptionoofotheocontractolabouroworkingoinotheo concernedoestablishment.o

(4)oWeoover-ruleotheojudgmentoofothisocourtoinoAiroIndia'so caseo(supra)oprospectivelyoandodeclareothatoanyodirectiono issuedobyoanyoindustrialoadjudicator/anyocourtoincludingo HighoCourt,oforoabsorptionoofocontractolabourofollowingo theo judgmento ofo ino Airo India'so caseo (supra),o shallo holdo goodoandothatotheosameoshallonotobeosetoaside,oalteredooro modifiedoonotheobasisoofothisojudgmentoinocasesowhereosucho aodirectionohasobeenogivenoeffectotooandoitohasobecomeo final.o

(5)oOnoissuanceoofoprohibitiononotificationounderoSectiono 10(1)oofotheoCLRAoActoprohibitingoemploymentoofocontracto labouro oro otherwise,o ino ano industrialo disputeo broughto beforeoitobyoanyocontractolabouroinoregardotooconditionsoofo service,otheoindustrialoadjudicatorowillohaveotooconsidero theoquestionowhetherotheocontractorohasobeenointerposedo eitheroonotheogroundoofotheohavingoundertakenotooproduceo anyo giveno resulto foro theo establishmento oro foro supplyo ofo contracto labouro foro worko ofo theo establishmento undero ao genuineocontractooroisoaomereoruse/camouflageotooevadeo complianceo ofo variouso beneficialo legislationso soo aso too depriveo theo workerso ofo theo benefito thereunder.o Ifo theo contracto iso foundo too beo noto genuineo buto ao mereo camouflage,otheoso-calledocontractolabourowillohaveotoobeo treatedoasoemployeesoofotheoprincipaloemployerowhooshallo beo directedo too regulariseo theo serviceso ofo theo contracto labouro ino theo concernedo establishmento subjecto too theo conditionsoasomayobeospecifiedobyoitoforothatopurposeoinotheo lightoofoparao6ohereunder.o

(6)oIfotheocontractoisofoundotoobeogenuineoandoprohibitiono notificationo undero Sectiono 10(1)o ofo theo CLRAo Acto ino respectoofotheoconcernedoestablishmentohasobeenoissuedobyo theoappropriateoGovernment,oprohibitingoemploymentoofo contractolabouroinoanyoprocess,ooperationoorootheroworkoofo anyoestablishmentoandowhereoinosuchoprocess,ooperationoofo othero worko ofo theo establishmento theo principalo employero intendso too employo regularo workmeno heo shallo giveo preferenceotootheoerstwhileocontractolabour,oifootherwiseo foundosuitableoand,oifonecessary,obyorelaxingotheoconditiono aso too maximumo ageo appropriatelyo takingo intoo considerationotheoageoofotheoworkersoatotheotimeoofotheiro initialoemploymentobyotheocontractoroandoalsoorelaxingotheo conditiono aso too academico qualificationso othero thano technicaloqualifications.o

16.o o Stillofurther,otheoeffectoofonon-registrationoofocontractoroundero theo Act,o 1970o waso consideredo byo ao Divisiono Bencho ofo thiso Courtoooooooooooooooo inoBalwinderoSinghov.oPunjaboStateooElectricityoBoard,oo2011(4)oS.C.T.o231,oo o whereinoitowasoobservedoasounder:-o "6.o Theo absenceo ofo anyo registrationo ofo theo labouro contractoro undero theo provisionso ofo theo Act,o ino ouro consideredo view,o willo noto altero theo situation.o Theo sameo mayomakeotheolabourocontractoroliableoforopenaloandoothero actiono contemplatedo byo theo provisionso ofo theo Act.o Theo absenceoofoanyosuchoregistrationoofotheolabourocontractoro cannoto obliterateo theo engagemento ofo workmeno byo theo contractor;oneitherotheosaidofactocanoalterotheostatusoofotheo workmenotoooneooforegularoemployeesounderotheoprincipalo employer…"o

17.o o Furthermore,otheoperipheriesofothisocourtotooexerciseoCertiorario jurisdictiono standso authoritativelyo delineatedo ino Syedo Yakoobo v.o K.o S.oo Radhakrishnan,o o AIRo o 1964o o Supremeo o Courto o 477,o whereino Hon'bleo SupremeoCourtoheldoasounder:oo "7.o Theoquestionoaboutotheolimitsoofotheojurisdictionoofo HighoCourtsoinoissuingoaowritoofocertiorariounderoArticleo 226ohasobeenofrequentlyoconsideredobyothisoCourtoando theo trueo legalo positiono ino thato behalfo iso noo longero ino doubt.oAowritoofocertiorariocanobeoissuedoforocorrectingo errorso ofo jurisdictiono committedo byo inferioro courtso oro tribunals:otheseoareocasesowhereoordersoareopassedobyo inferiorocourtsoorotribunalsowithoutojurisdiction,ooroisoino excesso ofo it,o oro aso ao resulto ofo failureo too exerciseo jurisdiction.o Ao writo cano similarlyo beo issuedo whereo ino exerciseo ofo jurisdictiono conferredo ono it,o theo Courto oro Tribunaloactsoillegallyooroinoproperly,oasoforoinstance,oito decidesoaoquestionowithoutogivingoanoopportunityotoobeo heard,otootheopartyoaffectedobyotheoorder,oorowhereotheo procedureo adoptedo ino dealingo witho theo disputeo iso opposedo too principleso ofo naturalo justice.o Thereo is,o however,onoodoubtothatotheojurisdictionotooissueoaowritoofo certiorario iso ao supervisoryo jurisdictiono ando theo Courto exercisingoitoisonotoentitledotooactoasoanoAppellateoCourt.o Thisolimitationonecessarilyomeansothatofindingsoofofacto reachedobyotheoinferioroCourtooroTribunaloasoresultoofo theo appreciationo ofo evidenceo cannoto beo reopenedo oro questionedoinowritoproceedings.oAnoerroroofolawowhichoiso apparentoonotheofaceoofotheorecordocanobeocorrectedobyoao writ,o buto noto ano erroro ofo fact,o howevero graveo ito mayo appearotoobe.oInoregardotoofindingoofofactorecordedobyotheo Tribunal,oaowritoofocertiorariocanobeoissuedoifoitoisoshowno thato ino recordingo theo saido finding,o theo Tribunalo hado erroneouslyo refusedo too admito admissibleo ando materialo evidence,o oro hado erroneouslyo admittedo inadmissibleo evidenceo whicho haso influencedo theo impugnedo finding.o Similarly,oifoaofindingoofofactoisobasedoononooevidence,o thatowouldobeoregardedoasoanoerroroofolawowhichocanobeo correctedobyoaowritoofocertiorari.oInodealingowithothiso categoryo ofo cases,o however,o weo musto alwayso bearo ino mindo thato ao findingo ofo facto recordedo byo theo Tribunalo cannoto beo challengedo ino proceedingso foro ao writo ofo certiorarioonotheogroundothatotheorelevantoandomaterialo evidenceoadducedobeforeotheoTribunalowasoinsufficiento oro inadequateo too sustaino theo impugnedo finding.o Theo adequacyoorosufficiencyoofoevidenceoledoonoaopointoando theoinferenceoofofactotoobeodrawnofromotheosaidofindingo areowithinotheoexclusiveojurisdictionoofotheoTribunal,oando theosaidopointsocannotobeoagitatedobeforeoaowritoCourt.oIto isowithinotheseolimitsothatotheojurisdictionoconferredoono theo Higho Courtso undero Articleo 226o too issueo ao writo ofo certiorariocanobeolegitimatelyoexercised.oo

8.o oItois,oofocourse,onotoeasyotoodefineooroadequatelyo describeowhatoanoerroroofolawoapparentoonotheofaceoofo theorecordomeans.oWhatocanobeocorrectedobyoaowritohaso toobeoanoerroroofolaw;oitomustobeosuchoanoerroroofolawoaso canobeoregardedoasooneowhichoisoapparentoonotheofaceoofo theo record.o Whereo ito iso manifesto oro clearo thato theo conclusiono ofo lawo recordedo byo ano inferioro Courto oro Tribunaloisobasedoonoanoobviousomisinterpretationoofotheo relevantostatutoryoprovision,oorosometimesoinoignoranceo ofoit,ooromayobe,oevenoinodisregardoofoit,ooroisoexpresslyo foundedoonoreasonsowhichoareowrongoinolaw,otheosaido conclusionocanobeocorrectedobyoaowritoofocertiorari.oIno allotheseocases,otheoimpugnedoconclusionoshouldobeosoo plainlyoinconsistentowithotheorelevantostatutoryoprovisiono thatonoodifficultyoisoexperiencedobyotheoHighoCourtoino holdingothatotheosaidoerroroofolawoisoapparentoonotheofaceo ofotheorecord.oItomayoalsoobeothatoinosomeocases,otheo impugnedoerroroofolawomayonotobeoobviousooropatentoono theofaceoofotheorecordoasosuchoandotheoCourtomayoneedo anoargumentotoodiscoverotheosaidoerror;obutothereocanobeo noo doubto thato whato cano beo correctedo byo ao writo ofo certiorarioisoanoerroroofolawoandotheosaidoerroromust,oono theowhole,obeoofosuchoaocharacteroasowouldosatisfyotheo testothatoitoisoanoerroroofolawoapparentoonotheofaceoofotheo record.oIfoaostatutoryoprovisionoisoreasonablyocapableoofo twoo constructionso ando oneo constructiono haso beeno adoptedobyotheoinferioroCourtooroTribunal,oitsoconclusiono mayonotonecessarilyooroalwaysobeoopenotoocorrectionobyo aowritoofocertiorari.oInoouroopinion,oitoneitheropossibleo norodesirableotooattemptoeitherotoodefineoorotoodescribeo adequatelyo allo caseso ofo errorso whicho cano beo appropriatelyo describedo aso errorso ofolawo apparentoono theo faceo ofo theo record.o Whethero oro noto ano impugnedo erroroisoanoerroroofolawoandoanoerroroofolawowhichoiso apparentoonotheofaceoofotheorecord,omustoalwaysodependo uponotheofactsoandocircumstancesoofoeachocaseoandoupono theo natureo ando scopeo ofo theo legalo provisiono whicho iso allegedotoohaveobeenomisconductedoorocontravened."o

18.o o Noootheropointohasobeenourged.o

19.o o Keepingooinoviewotheoabove,oIodoonotofindoanyoillegalityoinoawardo datedo26.09.2013o(AnnexureoP-18)opassedobyotheoCGIT,oChandigarh,owhicho mayo callo foro interferenceo byo thiso Courto whileo o exercisingo o itso o writoo jurisdiction,ootherefore,otheopresentowritopetition,obeingobereftoofoanyomerits,o isodismissed.o

20.o o Allopendingoapplication/s,oifoany,oshalloalsoostandoclosed.o o thOcober12 ,o2023o o o o o o (HARSHoBUNGER)o gurpreeto o o o o o o o JUDGEo Whetherospeaking/reasoned:o o Yes/Noo Whetheroreportable:o o o Yes/No