IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 07.04.2011 CORAM:- The Hon'ble Mr. Justice R. SUDHAKAR W.P. Nos. 34128 of 2004, 7749, 8536 21396, 47658 of 2006, 14600, 14822, 16034,16162,16502 to 16507,17195,27172,32207 of 2007, 7, 12065,14134,20404,30819 of 2008, 19953,22003 of 2010 and W.P.M.P.Nos.41620 of 2004, 8541, 9473 of 2006 and M.P.Nos.1,1 of 2006, 1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1 of 2007, 1,1,1,1,1 of 2008 and 1 ,1 of 2010 .......... The Superintending Engineer, Vellore Electricity Distribution Circle, Gandhi Nagar, Vellore-6. ... Petitioner in W.P.34128/04, 16034/07, 16162/07 1.THE CHAIRMAN TAMIL NADU ELECTRICITY BORD 800 ANNA SALAI CHENNAI-2. 2.THE CHIEF ENGINEER/PERSONNEL TAMILNADU ELECTRICITY BOARD 800 ANNA SALAI CHENNAI-2. ... PETITIONERS 1 AND 2 IN W.P.7749/06 8536, 21396, 47658/06, 30819/08 22003/2010 3.THE SUPERINTENDING ENGINEER KARUR ELECY. DISTN. CIRCLE KARUR. ... 3RD PETITIONER IN W.P.7749 OF 2006 8536, 21396, 47658 OF 2006 3. THE SUPERINTENDING ENGINEER, CHENNAI DEVELOPMENT CIRCLE, POST OFFICE BUILDING, TAMILNADU ELECTRICITY BOARD 800, ANNA SALAI, CHENNAI-600 002 ..3RD PETITIONER IN W.P.30819/08 https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ THE SUPERINTENDING ENGINEER TIRUVANNAMALAI ELECTRICITY DISTRIBUTION CIRCLE VENGIKKAL TIRUVANNAMALAI 606 604 ...PETITIONER IN W.P.14600 OF 2007 12065/2008 THE SUPERINTENDING ENGINEER GENERAL CONSTRUCTION CIRCLE TNEB SALEM 14 ... PETITIONER IN W.P.14822 OF 2007 16162 OF 2007 THE SUPERINTENDING ENGINEER VILLUPURAM ELECTRICITY DISTRIBUTION CIRCLE, VILLUPURAM ... PETITIONER IN W.P.16502/2007 16503, 16504,16505, 16506, 16507,/07, 17195/07, 7/08, 14134/2008, 20404/08 THE SUPERINTENDING ENGINEER TAMILNADU ELECTRICITY BOARD UDUMAL ELECTRICITY DISTRIBUTION CIRCLE UDUMALPT ...PETITIONER IN W.P.27172 OF 2007 THE SUPERINTENDING ENGINEER KANCHIPURAM ELECTRICITY DISTRIBUTION CIRCLE, ANNA MAALIGAI OLIMOHAMADPET KANCHIPURAM - 631 502 ...PETITIONER IN W.P 32207 OF 2007 THE SUPERINTENDING ENGINEER ERODE ELECTRICITY DISTRIBUTION CIRCLE, TAMILNADU ELECTRICITY BOARD ERODE ... PETITIONER IN W.P.19953 OF 2010 3 THE CHIEF ENGINEER/ TRANSMISSION TAMILNADU ELECTRICITY BOARD 800 ANNA SALAI CHENNAI-600 002. 4 THE SUPERINTENDING ENGINEER GENERAL CONSTRUCTION CIRCLE TAMILNADU ELECTRICITY BOARD MANNARPURAM TRICHY-20. https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ 5 THE EXECUTIVE ENGINEER TRANSMISSION LINE CONSTRUCTION TAMILNADU ELECTRICITY BOARD 13 DEEPAN NAGAR CHEMMANDALAM CUDDALORE. ... PETITIONERS 3 TO 5 IN W.P.22003 OF 2010 Vs. 1.The Government of Tamil Nadu rep. by its Secretary to Government, Energy Department, Chennai-9. 2.The Government of Tamil Nadu, rep. by its Secretary to Labour and Employment Department, Chennai-9. ...Respondents 1 & 2 in W.P.34128/04, 7749, 8536, 21396, 47658/06, 14600, 14822, 16034,16162,16502 to 16507, 17195, 27172,32207/07, 7/08, 12065/08, 14134, 20404/08. 3.The Inspector of Labour, Vellore. 4.S.Devandran 5.S.Dinakaran 6.S.Munisamy 7.P.Ramesh 8.D.Muralitharan 9.R.Nandhakumar 10.P.Rajendran 11.G.Chandrasekaran 12.N.Prabukaran 13.S.Prabusankar 14.M.Sureshbabu 15.K.Vijayan 16.G.Munisamy 17.S.Ramesh 18.S.Raja 19.J.Nandakumar 20.T.Elangovan 21.S.Prakash 22.S.Loganathan 23.K.Sambasivam 24.C.Karnan 25.E.Ravi Sankar https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ 26.K.Dinakaran 27.E.Karthikeyan 28.B.Senthilkumar ... Respondents in W.P.34128/04 3. THE INSPECTOR OF LABOUR KARUR. 4 S.SUBBURATHINAM 5 N. PADMANABHAN 6 V. MANICKAM 7 M.VELLAISAMY 8 P. SAKTHIVEL 9 N. SELVAN 10 R.MUTHU 11 A.BALU 12 N.PANDIAN 13 P.RAMASAMY 14 G.MARUTHAMUTHU 15 M. VIJAYAKUMAR 16 P.NAGARAJ 17 K.KRISHNAMOORTHY 18 P.MURUGANANTHAM 19 M.RAMAMOORTHY 20 R.KANDHASAMY 21 P.MARIYAPPAN 22 P.MURUGESAN 23 K.PERIYASAMY 24 D.PANDIAN 25 D.DHANASEKARAN 26 A.RAJENDRAN 27 V.PILAVENTHIRAN 28 D.SIVASUBRAMANIYAN 29 P.VIJAYAKUMAR 30 T.GOVINDARAJ 31 P.SUBRAMANIAN 32 I.VILLIYAM DAVIT SAHAYARAJ .. RESPONDENTS IN W.P.7749 OF 2006 1.THE CHAIRMAN TAMIL NADU ELECTRICITY BORD 800 ANNA SALAI CHENNAI-2. 2.THE CHIEF ENGINEER/PERSONNEL TAMILNADU ELECTRICITY BOARD 800 ANNA SALAI CHENNAI-2. ... PETITIONERS 1 AND 2 IN W.P.7749/06 8536, 21396, 47658/06, 30819/08 22003/2010 https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ 3.THE SUPERINTENDING ENGINEER KARUR ELECY. DISTN. CIRCLE KARUR. ... 3RD PETITIONER IN W.P.7749 OF 2006 8536, 21396, 47658 OF 2006 3. THE SUPERINTENDING ENGINEER, CHENNAI DEVELOPMENT CIRCLE, POST OFFICE BUILDING, TAMILNADU ELECTRICITY BOARD 800, ANNA SALAI, CHENNAI-600 002 ..3RD PETITIONER IN W.P.30819/08 THE SUPERINTENDING ENGINEER TIRUVANNAMALAI ELECTRICITY DISTRIBUTION CIRCLE VENGIKKAL TIRUVANNAMALAI 606 604 ...PETITIONER IN W.P.14600 OF 2007 12065/2008 THE SUPERINTENDING ENGINEER GENERAL CONSTRUCTION CIRCLE TNEB SALEM 14 ... PETITIONER IN W.P.14822 OF 2007 16162 OF 2007 THE SUPERINTENDING ENGINEER VILLUPURAM ELECTRICITY DISTRIBUTION CIRCLE, VILLUPURAM ... PETITIONER IN W.P.16502/2007 16503, 16504,16505, 16506, 16507,/07, 17195/07, 7/08, 14134/2008, 20404/08 THE SUPERINTENDING ENGINEER TAMILNADU ELECTRICITY BOARD UDUMAL ELECTRICITY DISTRIBUTION CIRCLE UDUMALPT ...PETITIONER IN W.P.27172 OF 2007 THE SUPERINTENDING ENGINEER KANCHIPURAM ELECTRICITY DISTRIBUTION CIRCLE, ANNA MAALIGAI OLIMOHAMADPET KANCHIPURAM - 631 502 ...PETITIONER IN W.P 32207 OF 2007 THE SUPERINTENDING ENGINEER ERODE ELECTRICITY DISTRIBUTION CIRCLE, TAMILNADU ELECTRICITY BOARD ERODE ... PETITIONER IN W.P.19953 OF 2010 https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ 3 THE CHIEF ENGINEER/ TRANSMISSION TAMILNADU ELECTRICITY BOARD 800 ANNA SALAI CHENNAI-600 002. 4 THE SUPERINTENDING ENGINEER GENERAL CONSTRUCTION CIRCLE TAMILNADU ELECTRICITY BOARD MANNARPURAM TRICHY-20. 5 THE EXECUTIVE ENGINEER TRANSMISSION LINE CONSTRUCTION TAMILNADU ELECTRICITY BOARD 13 DEEPAN NAGAR CHEMMANDALAM CUDDALORE. ... PETITIONERS 3 TO 5 IN W.P.22003 OF 2010 VS 3. The Inspector of Labour, Karur. .. 3rd Respondent in W.P.8536/06, 21396/06 4. C. Rengaraj 5. S. Francis 6. S. Ganesan 7. V. Nallu 8. R. Govindarajan 9. R. Sangapillai 10.K. Gowthaman 11.S. Subramani 12.N.K. Samiyappan 13. P. Subramani 14. T. Muthukumaresan 15. M. Asaithambi 16. A. Kandhasamy 17.K. Sakthivel 18. A. Ramasamy 19.V. Vairaperumal 20. A. Thangaraj 21.P. Manoharan 22.M. Thillai Natarajan 23.R. Periyasamy 24. P. Dhandapani 25. P. Subramani 26. G. Karunagaran 27.K. Subramanian 28.A. Jagadeesan 29.S. Thirumani https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ 30.R. Parathan 31.P.Kandhasamy 32. M. Meganathan 33. R. Baskar .. Respondents 4 to 33 in W.P.8536/06 4. M. Kumarasamy 5. A.Munusamy 6. K.Murali 7. M.Ramalingam 8. K.Vengatesh 9. M.Mayilmurugan 10.C. Kumarasamy 11. M. Anantha Kumar 12. S. Ragu 13. C. Sivakumar 14. S. Thangaraj 15. S. Balu 16. K. Thiyagarajan 17. V. Sivakumar 18. R. Mahendran 19. K. Veerakumar, 20. R. Palanisamy 21. R. Tamil Selvan 22. R. Ravichandran 23. M. Parthiban 24. P. Panneerselvam 25. P. Nallusamy 26. R. Nagarajan 27. P. Murugesan 28. S.Gunasekaran 29. R. Ravi 30. M.Palanisamy 31. K.Murugesan 32. P.M. Gopal .. Respondents 4 to 32 in W.P.21396/06 3. The Inspector of Labour, Karur. 4. S.S.Madhavn 5. A.Chellamuthu 6. S. Muthurasu 7. P.Mariyappan 8. K. Muralidharan 9. R. Narayanan 10.R. Senthilkumar 11.K.Rajendran 12.R. Selvaraj 13.M.Sudhakaran https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ 14.K.Balasubramani 15.K. Ravichandran 16.S. Gopalakrishnan 17.R. Jayaraj 18.P.Kandhasamy 19.M. Chinnasamy 20.K.Ganesan 21.A. Sakthivel 22.P.Chinnathambi 23.S. John Sundarraj 24.P. Kannan 25.S.Devagoundan 26. V. Savariyar 27.S.Vijayakumar 28.K. Kumar 29.K. Manohar 30.P.Easwaran 31.D. Durai 32.S. Senthilkumar 33.K.Periyasamy ...Respondents 3 to 33 in W.P.47658/06 3 THE INSPECTOR OF LABOUR TIRUVANNAMALAI 4 N.KALAINESAN 5 G.THIRUMURAGAN 6 C.SAMPATH RESPONDENTS 4 TO 6 ARE REPRESENTED BY CIRCLE SECRETARY, TAMILNADU MIN KAZHAGA THOZHILALAR MUNNETRA SANGAM, TIRUVANNAMALAI ..RESPONDENTS 3 TO 6 IN WP NO.14600/2007 3 THE INSPECTOR OF LABOUR SALEM 4 K.KARNAN 5 T.SUDANDIRAM 6 T.VIJAY ANAND 7 P.SELVAN https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ 8 S.AMMASI ..RESPONDENTS 3 TO 8 IN WP NO.14822/2007 3 THE INSPECTOR OF LABOUR VELLORE 4 G.MURUGADOSS 5 P.SAGAYARAJ 6 S.RAJA RESPONDENTS 4 TO 6 BY TAMIL NADU MINVARIA JANATHA THOZILALAR SANGAM REP. BY STATE TREASURER NO.1, MJP STREET, TRIPLICANE, CHENNAI-5 ..RESPONDENTS 3 TO 6 IN WP NO.16034/2007 3 THE INSPECTOR OF LABOUR SALEM 4 R.MURALIDHARAN 5 N.BALAMURUGAN 6 K.RAJENDRAN 7 V.LOGANATHAN 8 L.ARUMUGAM 9 K.VENKATESAN ..RESPONDENTS 3 TO 9 IN WP NO.16162/2007 3 THE INSPECTOR OF LABOUR VILLUPURAM. ..3rd RESPONDENT IN WP NOS.16502, 16503, 16504,16505,16506, 16507 OF 2007, 17195/07, 7/08, 14134/08 20404/08 4 A.RAMACHANDRAN 5 R.MAYAKRISHNAN 6 E.RAJARAM 7 V.CHAKKARAPANI 8 A.USAIN 9 D.MANIVANNAN ..RESPONDENTS 4 TO 9 IN WP NO.16502/2007 https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ 4. A.DEIVASIGAMANI 5. S.JAGADEESAN 6. J.ARUMUGAM 7. J.SURESHKUMAR 8. A.SUDHAKARAN 9. M.DHANANCHEIYAN 10. R.SEKAR 11. P.KUBENDIRAN 12. J.MOHANKUMAR 13. M.MUTHU 14. V.GOPINATHAN 15. M.SEKAR 16. K.KUMARESAN 17. D.SATHISH 18. K.GANESAN 19. N.SHANMUGASUNDARAM ..RESPONDENTS 4 TO 19 IN WP NO.16503/2007 4 R.JAGADEESAN 5 S.R.LINGAM 6 G.ELUMALAI 7 C.LAKSHMANAN 8 K.SIVAPRAKASAM 9 K.BALAMURUGAN 10 T.KAMARAJ 11 J.BABU 12 K.RAMALINGAM 13 R.VINAYAGAMURTHY ..RESPONDENTS 4 TO 13 IN WP NO.16504/2007 4 P.SUBRAMANIAN 5 V.ANAND 6 N.VELMURUGAN 7 J.SIVAKUMAR 8 J.PADMANATHAN 9 K.JAYAKUMAR 10 R.BARATHIDHASAN 11 T.GANESAN 12 Y.MARQUE 13 G.RAVICHANDIRAN ..RESPONDENTS IN 4 TO 13 IN WP NO.16505/2007 4 V.ULAGANATHAN https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ 5 S.SIVAKUMAR 6 R.PANDIAN 7 N.SIVA 8 C.DEIVASIGAMANI 9 N.THANIGAVELAN 10 K.SAKTHIVEL 11 A.SANKAR 12 E.CRISTHOPH 13 A.KRISHNAN 14 S.SANKAR 15 G.KRISHNAMURTHY 16 R.IYYANAR 17 A.JOSEPH 18 R.KUMAR 19 S.BOOVARAGAMURTHY 20 D.SATHIYAKUMAR 21 K.LOGESWARAN 22 S.VIJAYAKUMAR 23 S.LAKSHMANAN 24 R.DHAYALAN 25 M.PALANI ..RESPONDENTS IN 4 TO 25 IN WP 16506/2007 4 G.SEKAR 5 G.PANDIYAN 6 T.DAKSHINAMURTHY 7 V.ANNAMALAI 8 R.K.SERAN 9 N.JAYAKUMAR 10 N.DURAISAMY 11.R.Elumalai 12.V.Padmanaban 13.V.Siva Sathivel 14.N.Selvakumar 15.P.Muruganithi 16.K.K.Elanthamilan 17.R.Natarajan 18.R.Arul 19.R.Prakash 20.J.Ashokkumar 21.D.Chandrasekaran 22.T.Ramamurthy .. Respondents 4 to 22 in W.P.No.16507/2007 T.Jayamurthy .. 4th Respondent in W.P.No.17195/07 https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ 3.The Inspector of Labour Coimbatore 4.S.Rajendran 5.M.Vanaraj 6.K.Mahendran 7.T.Prabakaran .. Respondents 3 to 7 in W.P.No.27172/2007 Respondents 4 to 7 are reptd by the Circle Asst.Secretary/ Tamil Nadu Minkazhaga Thozhilalar Munetra Sangam, Udumalpet. 3.The Inspector of Labour, Thiruvellore. 4.M.Rajagopal 5.M.Thangavel 6.V.Ponnuswamy 7.A.A.Elumalai 8.G.Swaminathan 9.S.Devaraju 10.R.Devarajan 11.K.Kumar 12.P.Mani 13.V.Saravanan 14.R.Radhakrishnan 15.V.Jaganathan 16.K.Govindarajan 17.D.Moorthi 18.V.Sampath 19.M.Kuppaiah 20.P.Rajendran 21.K.Dhanapal 22.D.Munikannan 23.B.Venkatesan 24.C.Elumalai 25.G.Gunasekaran 26.T.Munirathinam 27.T.Venkatesan 28.K.Venkatesan 29.G.Muralikumar 30.T.Ramakrishnan ... Respondents 3 to 30 in W.P.No.32207/2007. https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ 4.G.Ilayaraja 5.S.Gunasekaran 6.T.Bakthavatchalam ... Respondents 4 to 6 in W.P.No.7/08 3.The Inspector of Labour Tiruvannamalai 4.M.Vijiyan 5.R.Pandiyan 6.A.Arunprasath 7.P.V.Sundaramoorthy 8.M.Varadhan 9.A.Baskaran 10.S.Natarajan 11.G.Dhanasekaran 12.M.Sankar 13.P.Rajamani 14.G.Jagadeesan 15.K.Sekar 16.C.Elumalai 17.N.Jothi 18.K.Venugopal 19.G.Rajendiran 20.S.Haridoss 21.M.Devaraj 22.A.Balachandran 23.K.Elumalai 24.K.Kuppan 25.A.Gandhi 26.S.Murugan 27.B.Murugan 28.S.Ganapathy 29.S.Kannan 30.D.Gnanaprakasam 31.K.M.Kumar 32.G.Palani 33.P.Bakiyaraj 34.P.Bharathiraja 35.S.Kumar 36.C.Elumalai 37.D.Ganapathy 38.G.Murugan .. Respondents 3 to 38 in W.P.No.12065/08. Respondents 4 to 38 are represented by circle Secretary,T.N.E.B. Worker's Federation, Thiruvannamalai Elecy. Distn. Circle, https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ Thiruvannamalai. E.Sinkaravelan ..4th Respondent in WP 14134/2008 T.Elavarasan ..4th Respondent in WP 20404/2008 1.K.Ramanujulu 2.The Inspector of Labour No.33, Vengada Narayana Road, Nandanam, Chennai-35. ..Respondents 1 & 2 in WP 30819/2008 1.The Inspector of Labour, Labour Department,Erode. 2.K.Annadurai 3.J.A.Suresh Kumar 4.M.Balachandran 5.R.Arthanari 6.K.Chinnasamy 7.A.Kuppusamy 8.C.Vijayakumar 9.V.Kumar 10.M.Ponnusamy 11.P.Mahendiran 12.K.Balakrishnan 13.M.Sekr 14.M.Panneerselvam 15.C.Veerakumaran 16.S.Senthilkumar 1.N.Natarajan 18.D.Saravanan 19.S.Balamurugan 20.G.Prakash 21.P.Karthikeyan 22.G.Ganesan 23.M.Vetrivel Saravanan 24.P.Dmodaran 25.A.Loganathan 26.S.V.Madeshvaran 27.R.Senthilnathan 28.C.Chockalingam 29.K.Ponnan 30.A.Thulasimani 31.G.Yuvaraj 32.D.Muruali 33.K.Loganathan https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ 34.K.Sivakumar 35.N.Prabakaran 36.K.Prabakaran 37.P.Nachimuthu 38.K.Navaneethan 39.K.Rasu 40.P.Muthu 41.M.Rajendiran 42 C. Palanisamy 43 A. Subramaniyan 44 P. Periyasamy 45 O. N. Arumugam 46 P. Suresh 47 R. Krishnamoorthi 48 N. Velusamy 49 P. Balakrishnan 50 Tamil Nadu Minvariya Ulaipalar Sangam, Reg No.1200/TRY Manila Thalamai Aluvalagam, Vairam Plaza, Sirudhaiyur, Lalkudi Post & Tk., Tiruchy District ...Respondents In WP.No.19953/2010 1. Inspector Of Labour Cuddalore 2. Mathiazhagan ...Respondents In W.P.22033/2010 Petition in WP No.34128 of 2004 filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India to issue a Writ of Certiorari, to call for the records of the third respondent, relating to his proceedings in the Pa.Mu.No.E.1543/2002 dated 02.12.2003 directing the petitioner to confer permanent status to the respondents 4 to 28 as workers in Tamil Nadu Electricity Board, Vellore Electricity Distribution Circle/Vellore-6, and quash the same. WP.Nos.7749/06, 8536/06, 21396/06, 47658/06, 14600/07, 16034/07, 27172/07 & 32207/07:- Praying To Issue A Writ Of Certiorari Calling For The Records Of The Third Respondent Relating To His Proceedings; Dated 11.02.2005 Made In Claim Petition Na.ka.no.2379/2003 (WP.No.7749/06); Dated 4.03.2005 Made In Claim Petition Na.ka.no.2523/2003 (WP.No.8536/06) Dated 18.02.2005 Made In Claim Petition Na.ka.no.2553/2003 (WP.No.21396/06) https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ Dated 10.03.2005 Made In Claim Petition Na.ka.no.2587/2003 (WP.No.47658/06) Dated 15.05.2006 Made In Proceedings In The Na.ka.E.1447/2005 (WP.No.14600/07) Dated 27.09.2005 Relating To His Proceedings In Pu.Mu.No.E.1801/2005 (WP.No.16034/07) Relating To His Proceedings In Na.ka.E.11195/2005, Dated 29.12.2005 (WP.No.27172/07) Dated 30.06.2005 Made In Claim Petition No.Na.Ka.A/1729/1 To 27/2004 (WP.No.32207/07) Respectively And Quash The Same. W.P.No.14822/07 and 16162/07: Praying to issue a 'Writ of Certiorari calling for the records of the 3rd Respondent relating to its common order dated 14.8.2006 passed in No.A.491/06(W.P.No.14822/07 dated 14.8.2006 passed in No.A 6080/05(W.P.No.16162/07) and quash the same. W.P.No.16502 to 16507, 17195/07, 7/2008, 14138/08, 20404/08:- Praying to issue a 'Writ of Certiorari' calling for the records of the 3rd Respondent relating to his proceeding Na.Ka.No.A/1921/2003, dated 30.6.2006 (W.P.16502/07) Na.Ka.No.A/678/2004 dated 3.7.06(W.P.16503/07) Na.Ka.No.A/681/2004 dated 3.7.06(W.P.16504/07) Na.Ka.No.A/679/2004 dated 3.7.06(W.P.16505/07) Na.Ka.No.A/1888/2004 dated 4.7.06(W.P.16506/07) Na.Ka.No.A/680/2004 dated 3.7.06(W.P.16507/07) Na.Ka.No.A/687/2004 dated 30.6.06(W.P.17195/07) Na.Ka.No.A/2441/2006 dated 14.7.07(W.P.7/08) Na.Ka.No.A/3302/2005 dated 22.11.07(W.P.14134/08) Na.Ka.No.A/3813/2005 dated 28.4.08(W.P.20404/08) directing the petitioner to confer permanent status to the Respondents 4 to 9(W.P.16502/07) respondents 4 to 19 (W.P.16503/07) respondents 4 to 13(W.P.16504, 1605/07) respondents 4 to 25 (W.P.16506/07) respondents 4 to 22(W.P.16507/07) respondent-4 (W.P.17195/07) respondents 4 to 6(W.P.7/08) Respondents-4 (W.P.14138/08, 20404/08) as workers in Tamil Nadu Electricity Board/Villupuram Elecy.Distribution Circle/Villupuram and quash the same. W.P.No.12065/08 Praying to issue a 'Writ of Certiorari' calling for the records of the 3rd Respondent relating to his award dated 3.1.2007 and made in Pa.Mu.2258/06 and quash the same. https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ W.P.No.30819/08: praying to issue a 'Writ of Certiorari' calling for the records of the 2nd Respondent culminating with his proceedings in Pa.Mu.No.E 5173 of 2006 dated 23.6.2008 and to quash the same. W.P.No.19953/2010: Praying to issue a 'Writ of Certiorari calling for the records of the Ist Respondent relating to his proceeding in Na.Ka.Aa.4191/2008 dated 29.5.2009 (W.P.No.19953/2010) Na.Ka.No.E/2146/08 dated 31.3.2009(W.P.No.22003/2010) directing the petitioner to confer permanent status to the 2 to 49 Respondents (W.P.No.19953/2010) 2nd Respondent (W.P.No.22003/2010) as workers in Tamil Nadu Electricity Board/Erode Electricity Distribution Circle Erode and quash the same. For Petitioners in WP Nos.34128 of 2004 14822,16034,16162,27172 32207 of 2007 and 19953 of 2010, 7749/06 : Mr.B.Sekar For Petitioners in 7749,8536,21396, 47658 of 2006, 14600,16502 to 16507 of 2007, 7, 12065,14134,20404, 30819 of 2008 & 22003 of 2010 17195/07 : Mr.M.Vaidyanathan For Respondents in 34128/2004, 7749,8536,47658 of 2006, 14822,16034,16162,16502 to 16507,27172,32207 of 2007, 7, 12065, 14134 of 2008 & 17195 of 2007 : Mr.S.Shivashanmugam 14600/08, 20404/08, 30819/08 Govt. Advocate for R1 to R3. for R2 in W.P.30819/08 for R1 in W.P.22003/10 W.P.No.34128 of 2004 : N.A. for R4 to 28 W.P.14600/08 N.A. for R4 to R6 W.P.No.7749 of 2006 : Mr.V.R.Annagandhi for R-5 Mr.A.R.Sakthivel for https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ R-8,22 and 24. W.P.No.8536 of 2006 : A.R.Sakthivel for R-4,6,7,15 20,22,32 Mr.P.Saravnan for R-10 W.P.No.47658 of 2006 : Mr.P.Sundarrajan for R-17,18 20,21 & 23. Mr.A.R.Sakthivel for R-9,10, 27,30 & 31 N.A. for R-6 to 8, 11 to 16,19 22,24 to 26, 28,29,32 and 33 W.P.No.14822 of 2007 : Mrs.C.K.Vishnupriya for R-5. 7,8 S.T.Varadarajulu for R-4 & 6 W.P.No.16034 of 2007 : Mrs.R.Meenal for R-4 to 6 W.P.No.16162 of 2007 : Mr.V.Ajoy Khose for 4 to 9 W.P.No.16502 to 16507 and 17195 of 2007 : N.A. for other respondents. W.P.No.27172 of 2007 : N.A for 4 to 7 W.P.No.32207/2007 : N.A. for 4 to 30 W.P.No.21396 of 2006 : Mr.A.R.Sakthivel for R-20,32 N.A. for 4 to 19, 21 & 31. W.P.No.12065 of 2008 : N.A. for 4 to 38 W.P.No.14134 of 2008 : N.A. for R-4 & W.P.20404 of 2008 W.P.No.19953 of 2010 : Mr.S.Shivashanmugam for R-1 Government Advocate Mr.R.Krishnaswamy for R-2 to 32 34 to 36, 38 to 50 W.P.7 of 2008 : Mr.V.S. Sankaranarayanan for R5, R6 N.A. for R4 W.P.No.30819 of 2008 : Mr.S.Shivashanmugam for R-2 Government Advocate N.A. for R-1. W.P.No.22003 of 2010 : Mr.S.Shivashanmugam for R-1 Government Advocate N.A. for R-2. https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ C O M M O N O R D E R The Tamil Nadu Electricity Board has filed these batch of writ petitions challenging the order of the Labour Inspector in individual claim made by the contract labourers engaged by the Board for doing jobs viz., digging pits, laying cables and erection of poles etc. 2. According to the learned counsel appearing for the respondents, the contract labourers worked for more than 480 days in two calendar years and approached the Labour Inspector for conferment of permanency status in accordance with the Tamil Nadu Industrial Establishments (Conferment of Permanent Status)Act,1981, as their claim was not considered. Such claim was adjudicated and held in favour of the individual labourers by the order of the Labour Inspector and the same is under challenge before this Court. At the time of hearing, it is pointed out by the learned counsel appearing for the respondents that the similar claim made by the contract workers were adjudicated in their favour by the Labour Inspector, which was challenged before this Court and this Court in Superintending Engineer, Vellore Electricity Distribution Circle, Vellore and others Vs. Inspector of Labour, Perambalur and others, reported in 2004(3)L.L.N.598, held as follows:- 42. In the light of my abovesaid conclusion, I do not find any scope to refer to the various other decisions relied upon on behalf of the petitioner/Board except the judgment of the Hon'ble Supreme Court in Chief Engineer Tuticorin Thermal Power Station case (2002 (1) L.L.N. 651) (vide supra), where in respect of similarly placed workmen whose claims came to be accepted and the conferment of permanent status granted by the Inspector of Labour, Tuticorin was upheld by this Court, which was also confirmed by the Hon'ble Supreme Court. Therefore, it will have to be held that the course adopted by the concerned workmen who were similarly placed like that of the workmen covered in the above referred to judgment of the Hon'bel Supreme Court are equally entitled to rely upon the abovesaid decision to support the orders impugned in these writ petitions. 43. Be that as it may, it will have to be held that the conferment of permanent status which has been directed to be accorded by the orders impugned in the writ petitions can only be taken to mean that the status of the concerned workmen which were hitherto a nebulous one would https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ become a permanent one with the petitioner/Board. The question whether such a conferment of permanent status would entitle the concerned workmen to claim regularisation in a particular category in the services of the petitioner/Board requires further consideration by the Board. I am of the view that while the conferment of permanent status would ensure to the concerned workmen their permanent employment with the petitioner/Board, in what category or post in which they are to be regularised is a matter which will have to be worked out by the petitioner/Board by passing appropriate orders. The conferment of permanent status in the services of the Board in the appropriate position befitting the nature of employment hitherto performed by the concerned workmen as ordered by the Inspector of Labour should be appropriately made by the Board. Inasmuch as the Inspector of Labour having crystallised the position that the concerned workmen have acquired the status of permanency in the employment of the petitioner/Board, the consequential details of such permanent status will have to be specified by the petitioner/Board by issuing appropriate proceedings. In other words, the petitioner/Board will have to pass appropriate orders relating to the concerned workmen be in any existing category of employment or by virtue of the nature of jobs hitherto performed by them, they are to be fitted in any other post with the corresponding scale of wages/scales/etc., and the other benefits available to them to be prescribed by the petitioner Board. In the event of such proceedings issued by the petitioner/Board creating any controversy or dispute by the concerned workmen therefor the said issue may have to be appropriately thrashed out in the manner known to law. Having regard to the positive directions issued by the Inspector of Labour, it is incumbent on the part of the petitioner/Board to pass appropriate proceedings conferring permanent status to the concerned workmen in accordance with law. 3. The abovesaid order was challenged by way of writ appeal in W.A.No.1302 of 2003, along with the writ appeal, the writ petitions filed by the technically qualified persons were also considered in a batch of writ petition No.45517 of 2002 on https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ 24.10.2008. At the time of disposal of the writ appeal, the Division Bench of this Court upheld the order of the single Judge of this Court thereby the order of Labour Inspector came to be confirmed. In the meantime, the Board entered into the settlement under Section 18(1) on 10.08.2007 in respect of 6000 contract labours which number increased thereafter. The Bench on considering the order of the single Judge, was of the view that the contract labourers are entitled to seek benefit under the provisions of Tamil Nadu Industrial Establishments(Conferment of Permanent Status) Act,1981. While confirming the order of the learned single Judge, the Division Bench observed that the direction containing in paragraph 43 of the single Judge's order will apply subject to the condition mentioned in paragraph 23 and 24 of the order in writ appeal. The relevant paragraph of the writ appeal reads as follows:- “23. If this was only a case of adjudication of whether the status of workmen was as directly employed by the Electricity Board or they were employed only as contract labourers, we would have directed that the objection should be considered and an adjudication made in the industrial dispute raised under Section 33(2)(b) of the Industrial Dispute Act. The argument advanced by Shri.Hariparanthaman is that the fact of more than 21,000 workmen was being adjudicated before the labour Court in I.D.No.106 of 2003 and that would be the appropriate forum of adjudication. He urged that the petitioner in W.P.No.27714 of 2007 and connected writ petition ought to have been directed only to challenge the agreement before the Industrial Tribunal and not by means of writ petition. We have already seen that remedy by writ petition itself is not barred and if the board as an employer has conceded to their status as workmen to whom the provisions of the Tamil Nadu Industrial Establishments(Conferment of Permanent Status Act), could be applicable, there is no warrant for directing the parties to seek adjudication before the Industrial Tribunal. We cannot hold that the agreement itself is tainted with any fraud or mala fides. As Shri. P.S.Raman, the learned Additional Advocate General, appearing for the Electricity Board says that it is simply a case of the Board not allowing itself not to the tied up in knots over a period of time in having adhoc policies of recruitment and feels upstaged when a problem of gigantic proportion has arisen where claims to thousands of men and women were https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ required to be addressed. A public body employing several thousands of persons could not be blind to realities and engage them in long litigations and if it is found that pragmatism dictated that there ought to be a finality to litigations and when it had already a judicial decision of a single Judge directing permanent status to workmen under the act, the proactive poser to conclude all litigations by an agreement could not be challenged either as fraudulent or as illegal. Revival of cadre or increase of cadre strength and specifying lesser qualifications commensurate with the nature of work through Board proceedings could not be faulted, so long as the regulations provided for creation of such cadre. 24. Under the circumstances, we are convinced that the settlement entered into by the Board with workmen and union is valid and enforceable. We, however, qualify the same that it shall be subordinated only to the extend that the claims of ITI trained workmen that the regulation demands for the post of 'helpers' are not discarded. The writ petition challenging section 18(1) settlement dated 10.08.2007 was also dismissed. 4. In fine, the Division Bench was passed the following order. The claims of persons before Labour Inspectors which have been allowed and who have come before this Court seeking for issue a mandamus for enforcement will now be considered under the 18(1) settlement. The Writ petitions filed by the Electricity Board challenging the orders of the Labour Inspectors will now be dismissed as infurtuous having regard to the 18(1) settlement. The appeals filed by the Board against the decision of the learned single will also stand dismissed. The claims of the workmen in W.P.No.1033 of 2006 and the connected batch will not stand affected by the decisions of this Court and the Labour Court will decide on their claims in I.D.No.106 of 2003 in the light of what we have observed, insofar as they are relevant and independently of the same on factual issues whether they have been directly employed by the Electricity Board or not. The Writ petitions and Writ appeals are disposed of accordingly. No costs. https://hcservices.ecourts.gov.in/hcservices/ 5. Since, the Division Bench of this Court has confirmed the order of the learned Single Judge of this Court and upheld the order of the Labour Inspector granting the relief of permanency to the individual contract labourers, the present batch of writ petitions on the same plea have to fail and accordingly the writ petitions are dismissed. The respondent employees/contract labourers will be entitled to all the benefits that will flow from the order of the learned single Judge of this Court as confirmed by the Division Bench as above. The Board is directed to implement the same within a period of six weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. Consequently, all connected M.Ps. are closed. Sd/- Asst.Registrar. /true copy/ Sub Asst.Registrar. rrg To