M. Sankara Rao v. The Honble Labour Court, Guntur,

HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE ABHINAND KUMAR SHAVILI WRIT PETITION No. 25949 of 2003 ORDER:

This writ petition is filed seeking to issue a writ of certiorari calling for the record relating to and connected with I.D.No.9 of 1998 on the file of the 1st respondent-Labour Court and quash the award dated 31.05.2001 passed therein insofar as not granting back wages and attendant benefits, holding it as illegal and arbitrary. Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned standing counsel for the respondent corporation.

It has been contended by the petitioner that he was appointed as Conductor in the respondent corporation in the year 1988. While he was discharging his duties on 16.02.1997 the checking officials of the respondent corporation conducted a check and found that he had indulged in cash and ticket irregularities. His conduct was construed as misconduct and after initiating disciplinary proceedings and after conducting regular enquiry, the disciplinary authority removed him from service vide orders dated 25.07.1997. Questioning the same, he unsuccessfully preferred an appeal and later filed I.D.No.9 of 1998 on the file of the 1st respondent-Labour Court. The Labour Court passed an award dated 31.05.2001 setting aside the order of removal and directing the respondent corporation to reinstate the petitioner into service with continuity of service, but without attendant benefits and

back wages. Challenging the award to the extent of not granting back wages and attendant benefits, the present writ petition is filed. Learned counsel for the petitioner has contended that the Labour Court while setting aside the orders of removal ought to have awarded back wages and attendant benefits.

On the other hand, learned standing counsel for the respondent corporation has contended that the disciplinary authority has rightly imposed the punishment of removal of petitioner from service and the Labour Court has also rightly modified the punishment of removal to that of reinstatement of petitioner into service with continuity of service, but without attendant benefits and back wages. Therefore, no interference is called for from this Court.

This Court, having considered the submissions made by the learned counsel for the parties, is of the considered view that the Labour Court has rightly passed the impugned award. Further, no illegality or irregularity has been pointed out in the award passed by the Labour Court, and unless and until grave irregularity is pointed out by the learned counsel for the petitioner, this Court cannot interfere with the impugned award. The writ petition is devoid of merits and the same is liable to be set aside.

Accordingly, the writ petition is dismissed. Consequently, miscellaneous petitions, if any, pending in the writ petition shall stand closed. No order as to costs.

______________________________ ABHINAND KUMAR SHAVILI, J 19th December, 2018 cbs

HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE ABHINAND KUMAR SHAVILI Writ Petition No. 25949 of 2003 (dismissed) 19th December, 2018 cbs