K.Sudhakar Reddy, Warangal Dist v. The Presiding Officer Warangaland1

HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE ABHINAND KUMAR SHAVILI WRIT PETITION No. 16190 of 2002 ORDER:

This writ petition is filed seeking a writ of certiorari calling for the records in connection with I.D.No.151 of 1995 on the file of the 1st respondent - Labour Court and quash the award dated 18.02.2002 passed in the said I.D., only to the extent of withholding of three increments with cumulative effect and not granting continuity of service, back wages and attendant benefits.

Heard learned counsel for petitioner and learned Standing Counsel for the 2nd respondent corporation.

The brief facts are that the petitioner was appointed as Conductor in the respondent Corporation and while he was discharging his duties on 06.05.1995 the officials of the respondent corporation conducted a check and found that he had indulged in cash and ticket irregularities. The respondent corporation construed his conduct as misconduct and after initiating disciplinary proceedings and after conducting a regular enquiry, the disciplinary authority imposed on him punishment of removal from service vide orders dated 20.07.1995. Challenging the said orders, he filed I.D.No.151 of 1995 on the file of the 1st respondent-Labour Court under Section 2A(2) of Industrial Disputes Act, 1947. By order dated 18.02.2002, the Labour Court was pleased to pass order in his favour by setting aside the order of removal and directed the respondent Corporation to

reinstate him into service as conductor as fresh recruit, but without continuity of service, back wages and attendant benefits. Further, the Labour Court imposed the punishment of withholding of three annual increments with cumulative effect. Challenging the same, he filed the present writ petition only to the extent of withholding of three increments with cumulative effect and denial of continuity of service, back wages and attendant benefits.

Learned counsel for the petitioner contended that the Labour Court cannot impose alternative punishment of withholding of three annual increments with cumulative effect while setting aside the orders of removal and further contended that the petitioner is also entitled for continuity of service, back-wages and attendant benefits. Learned Standing Counsel for the respondent Corporation contended that the Labour Court had rightly modified the major punishment of removal to that of reinstatement of the petitioner into service as fresh recruit and withholding of three increments with cumulative effect and, therefore, no interference is called for from this Court.

Having considered the rival contentions of the parties, this Court is of the considered view that the while setting aside the orders of removal, the Labour Court ought not to have imposed the punishment of withholding of three increments with cumulative effect. Therefore, ends of justice would be met if the order of the

Labour Court to the extent of withholding of three increments with cumulative effect is modified to that of without cumulative effect. In view of the above, the Writ Petition is partly allowed and the order of the Labour Court to the extent of withholding of three increments with cumulative effect is modified to that of without cumulative effect and the respondent Corporation is directed to grant notional benefits to the petitioner without any monetary benefits. Rest of the award of the Labour Court is confirmed. Consequently, miscellaneous petitions, if any, pending in the writ petition shall stand closed. No order as to costs. ______________________________ ABHINAND KUMAR SHAVILI, J 10th December, 2018 cbs

HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE ABHINAND KUMAR SHAVILI Writ Petition No. 16190 of 2002 (partly allowed) 10th December, 2018 cbs