IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH Civil Writ Petition No.10566 of 1988 Date of decision: 20.08.2009 Haryana Urban Development Authority …Petitioner versus Presiding Officer, Labour Court, Faridabad and another ...Respondents CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE K.KANNAN Present: Mr. Gaurav Mohunta, Advocate, for the petitioner. None for the respondents. ---- 1. Whether reporters of local papers may be allowed to see the judgment ? 2. To be referred to the reporters or not ? 3. Whether the judgment should be reported in the digest ? K.Kannan, J.(Oral) 1. The writ petition challenges the award of the Labour Court directing reinstatement for a workman (fitter) in HUDA, who was found to have been terminated on 13.01.1986. The only point urged before the Labour Court which however was not accepted was that the workman had voluntarily abandoned his services and that he did not present himself for work since 13.10.1986. The Labour Court found that the workman had admittedly worked for 240 days for 12 months prior to 13.01.1986, found there was no statutory compliance of Section 25-F and directed reinstatement. 2. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner re- emphasized the argument that had been made before the Labour Court that there had been an abandonment of service. His further contention Civil Writ Petition No.10566 of 1988 - 2 - was that if in spite of the award in his favour the workman had never offered himself for employment, it vindicated the persistent contention of the management that the workman had simply abandoned his services. The workman had first been represented through Mr.K.K.Mehta, Advocate, but there is no representation at all for several hearings when the matter was called. Although, I find that there are no circumstances to question the finding of the Labour Court, I still feel that direction for reinstatement in such a case where the workman has not pursued his rights with any alacrity, he shall not be favoured with an order of reinstatement. In my view, compensation of Rs.20,000/- would meet the ends of justice. 3. The award of the Labour Court is modified to provide only for the relief of compensation of Rs.20,000/- and the writ petition is ordered on the above terms. There shall be however no directions as to costs. (K.KANNAN) JUDGE 20.08.2009 sanjeev