IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE S.SIRI JAGAN MONDAY, THE 9TH JUNE 2008 / 19TH JYAISHTA 1930 WP(C).No. 17013 of 2008(A) PETITIONERS: ------------ 1. P.RADHAKRISHNAN, S/O.PAZHANIYANDI, PULINTHODU VEEDU, CHERADU,MALAMPUZHA. 2. MANI.V, S/O. VELAYUDHAN, PULINTHODU VEEDU, CHERADU,MALAMPUZHA. 3. MANIKANTAN, S/O. SIVARAMAN, LAKSHAM VEEDU, CHERADU. MALAMPUZHA. 4. BIJUMON, S/O. BALAN, LAKSHAM VEEDU, CHERADU, MALAMPUZHA. 5. SURESH.K., S/O. KRISHNAN, LAKSHAM VEEDU, CHERADU, MALAMPUZHA. 6. VIJAYANADAN, S/O. RAJU, LAKSHAM VEEDU, CHERADU, MALAMPUZHA. 7. JAYAKUMAR M.S, S/O. MANI, SARASWATHI NILAYAM, CHERADU, MALAMPUZHA. BY ADV. SRI.P.RAMAKRISHNAN RESPONDENTS: ------------- 1. THE KERALA CO-OPERATIVE MILK MARKETING FEDERATION, ARKA NILAYAM, VAZHUTHACAUD, THIRUVANANTHAPURA, REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY. 2. THE MANAGER, CATTLE FEED PLANT, MALAMPUZHA, PALAKKAD. 3. THE DISTRICT LABOUR OFFICER, PALAKKAD. BY ADV. SRI. B.S. KRISHNAN (SR) FOR MILMA GOVT. PLEADER SRI. I.V. PRAMOD. THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 09/06/2008, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: S. Siri Jagan, J. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= W. P (C) No. 17013 of 2008 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Dated this, the 9th June, 2008. J U D G M E N T Petitioners claim to be headload workers having registration under Rule 26A of the Kerala Headload Workers Rules working in Malampuzha area. In respect of employment for headload work in the area, the petitioners have raised Ext. P2 dispute under Section 21 of the Kerala Headload Workers Act. The grievance of the petitioners is that Ext. P2 has not been entertained by the 3rd respondent. Learned Government Pleader points out that the 3rd respondent is the appellate authority under Section 21 and it is the Assistant Labour Officer who has to initiate conciliation proceedings under Section 21 in respect of a dispute under the Act. The petitioners admit that they have not yet moved the Assistant Labour Officer in the matter. 2. I have heard the learned counsel for the petitioner, learned Government Pleader and the learned standing counsel for the 1st respondent. After hearing, I feel that the dispute has to be first conciliated by the Assistant Labour Officer as provided under Section 21 of the Act. Accordingly, I dispose of the writ petition with the following directions. The 3rd respondent shall forward Ext. P2 to the concerned Assistant Labour Officer, who shall take proceedings as provided under Section 21 of the Act and take to its logical conclusion as expeditiously as possible, at any rate, within two months from the date of receipt of a copy of this judgment. I make it clear that the D.L.O shall not in the first instance deal with similar disputes raised by others also in respect of the same subject matter and in the first instance, the Assistant Labour Officer shall consider the same. Sd/- S. Siri Jagan, Judge. Tds/ [True copy] P.S to Judge.