vss IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION WRIT PETITION NO.8681 OF 2006 WRIT PETITION NO.8681 OF 2006 WRIT PETITION NO.8681 OF 2006 State of Maharashtra through Government Photo Zinco Press, Pune ... Petitioner V/s. Raju N. Gaikwad ... Respondent Mr.C.R. Sonawane, AGP, for Petitioner CORAM: SMT.NISHITA SMT.NISHITA SMT.NISHITA MHATRE, J. MHATRE, J. MHATRE, J. DATED: MARCH 30, 2007 MARCH 30, 2007 MARCH 30, 2007 P.C.: P.C.: P.C.: . By this Petition, the Petitioner has challenged the ex-parte award dated 14.12.2005. The Labour Court by this award has granted reinstatement in service to the respondent workman as it was of the view that his termination from service w.e.f. 1.1.1998 was illegal. The present Petitioner did not file a written statement before the Labour Court. The ground mentioned in the Petition is that through inadvertence, the Petitioner failed to file the written statement. The Reference was pending before the Labour Court for three years. Therefore, the reason given by the Petitioner for not filing the written statement cannot be accepted. Apart from this, there is no cross-examination by the Petitioner of the respondent-workman. In such circumstances, there is no need to interfere with the ex-parte award of the Labour Court. Petition rejected.