IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE S.SIRI JAGAN FRIDAY, THE 20TH NOVEMBER 2009 / 29TH KARTHIKA 1931 WP(C).No. 33395 of 2009(T) -------------------------- PETITIONER(S): --------------- 1. K.MOHANDAS, SUB EDITOR, THE KERALA KAUMUDI, KOZHIKODE (UNDER ORDER OF TRANSFER TO KERALA KAUMUDI, NEW DELHI) 2. PADMANABHAN, THE GENERAL SECRETARY KERALA UNION OF WORKING JOURNALISTS, KESARI SMARAKA MANDIRAM, TRIVANDRUM. BY ADV. SMT.K.SUNITHA VINOD RESPONDENT(S): --------------- 1. DISTRICT LABOUR OFFICER, HQ, OFFICE OF LABOUR COMMISSIONER, HOUSING BOARD BUILDING, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 2. M/S.KERALA KAUMUDI PVT.LTD., KAUMUDI BUILDINGS, PATTOM, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, REPRESENTED BY ITS DIRECTOR M.S.RAVI. BY SR. GOVERNMENT PLEADER MR. K.C.SANTHOSH KUMAR THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 20/11/2009, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: S. SIRI JAGAN, J ............................................... W.P(C) No. 33395 of 2009 ................................................. Dated this the 20th day of November, 2009 J U D G M E N T Petitioners are journalists working under the 2nd respondent - Newspaper establishment - Management. The 2nd respondent management transferred them to Delhi. Raising an industrial dispute in respect of the said transfer, the petitioners union filed Ext.P2 complaint before the 1st respondent under the Industrial Disputes Act. Petitioners' grievance is that the 1st respondent is not taking appropriate steps on Ext.P2, as warranted by law. The petitioner therefore seeks the following reliefs: “i) to call for the records leading upto Ext.P2; ii) to issue a writ of mandamus or any other appropriate writ, direction or orders directing the 1st respondent to take appropriate action pursuant to Exhibit P2 complaint and the Industrial Disputes therein.” 2. I have heard the learned Government Pleader also. 3. When a union files a complaint before him under the Industrial Disputes Act, the 1st respondent has a duty to take further proceedings thereon as contemplated by the Industrial Disputes Act, by convening conciliation meetings between the union and the management. W.P(C) No. 33395 of 2009 -2- In the above circumstances, I dispose of this writ petition with a direction to the 1st respondent to take appropriate proceedings on Ext.P2, as contemplated by the Industrial Disputes Act and take the same to its logical conclusion, as expeditiously as possible, at any rate, within four months from the date of receipt of a copy of this judgment. sd/- S. SIRI JAGAN, JUDGE rhs // True copy // PA to Judge