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Madras High CourtWP/543/2015dismissed

The Management v. P.Lakshminarayanan

2023-03-28Honourable Mrs Justice J. Nisha Banu8 pages

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

Dated: 28.03.2023 CORAM :

THE HONOURABLE MRS.JUSTICE J.NISHA BANU and M.P.No.1 of 2015 The Management, Nellikuppam Municipality, rep. by its Commissioner, Nellikuppam Post, Panruti Taluk, Cuddalore District - 607 105 ..Petitioner Vs

1. P.Lakshminarayanan

2. The Presiding Officer, The Labour Court, Cuddalore.

..Respondents PRAYER: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India to issue a Writ of Certiorari to call for the award of the 2nd respondent in I.D.No.15/2013 dated 13.03.2014 and quash the same. For Petitioner : Mr.N.Subramani For Respondents : Mr.K.Arunagiri for R1 R2-Court.

O R D E R

This Writ Petition has been filed challenging the award passed by the 2nd respondent dated 13.03.3014, setting aside the order of termination of the 1st respondent and directing the petitioner to reinstate the 1st respondent with continuity of service and to pay backwages from the date of termination till the date of reinstatement.

2. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned counsel appearing for the 1st respondent.

3. Learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that the 1st respondent was working as part time overhead tank operator in the petitioner Municipality from 2006. Since there were no sufficient staff to maintain the overhead water tanks, the then Commissioner appointed operators as daily wage employees at Rs.20/- per day (i.e., monthly salary of Rs.600/-). There was no formal appointment for the 1st respondent. The appointment was on temporary basis and he was not sponsored by

employment exchange. The 1st respondent was not a workman to the petitioner management. As per G.O.Ms.No.1644 dated 12.10.1979, G.O.Ms.No.101 dated 30.04.1997, G.O.Ms.No.102 dated 15.05.1997, G.O.Ms.Nos.70 & 71 dated 05.05.1998 and G.O.Ms.No.198 dated 26.10.98 and proceeding of the Municipal Commissioner in Na.Ka.No.27350/99/F3 dated 28.04.1999, the petitioner management shall regularize the appointment those who were working before 01.10.1996 as daily wages. As per proceedings dated 29.09.1999, the Director of Municipal Commissioner sent a letter demanding to remove the persons who are appointed as daily wages after 01.10.1996. The candidates who were sponsored by employment exchange on the basis of the seniority, educational qualification and priority basis only, the appointment committee can select them as per the existing rules.

But the 1st respondent was appointed as daily wages on temporary arrangement without following the existing municipal rules and Government orders. Subsequently, the petitioner stopped the 1st respondent since the Government appointed persons on the basis of existing rules and they are working now in the petitioner municipality.

Cuddalore mechanically allowed the I.D. and directed the petitioner to reinstate the respondent in service.

4. Per contra, the learned counsel appearing for the 1st respondent would submit that the 1st respondent was working as overhead tank operator in the petitioner Municipality from 01.02.2006 with unblemished record of service. The 1st respondent worked for over 480 days in two years and requested the management to confer permanent status to him. For this reason, the management terminated him from service orally on 31.01.2012. The petitioner did not issue any notice to the 1st respondent. Neither charge memo was issued nor conducted any domestic enquiry. Therefore, the termination is in violation of Section 25F of the Industrial Disputes Act. Learned counsel would further submit that the Labour Court has considered all these aspects and had rightly allowed the I.D. and directed the petitioner management to reinstate the 1st respondent in service with continuity of service and backwages, which does not warrant any interference by this Court. Hence, he would pray to dismiss the writ petition.

5. This Court considered the submission made on either side and perused the materials available on record.

6. It is true that the 1st respondent was working as a part time time overhead tank operater in the petitioner Municipality for a monthly salary of Rs.600/- from the year 2006. There was no adverse remarks against him and he was not terminated as a measure of punishment. Therefore, the termination of the petitioner would amount to retrenchment. The 1st respondent had worked for 480 days in two years before his termination. The petitioner Management has not disputed this fact. Therefore, the 1st respondent is entitled to the benefit of Section 25F of the Industrial Disputes Act.

7. It is not in dispute that the 1st respondent was allowed to work for six years. All of a sudden he was sent out of employment stating that his appointment was irregular. If at all the appointment of the 1st respondent

was irregular, the petitioner management should have retrenched him in accordance with Section 25 F of the Industrial Disputes Act. Any retrenchment is invalid if the management fails to comply with Section 25 F of the said Act. There is also no evidence to show that retrenchment notice and compensation was paid to the 1st respondent. In the absence of the same, the termination is bad in law and liable to be set aside and the labour Court has rightly done so, with which this Court is not inclined to interfere with. This Court finds no merits in the writ petition and hence, the same is liable to be dismissed.

8. In the result, the Writ Petition stands dismissed. No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is closed. 28.03.2023 Index :Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order vsi

To The Presiding Officer, The Labour Court, Cuddalore.

J.NISHA BANU, J.

vsi 28.03.2023