THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE ASHUTOSH MOHUNTA W.P.NO.22797 OF 2002 ORDER The petitioner has impugned the order dated 18-2-2002 passed by the Principal Secretary to Government, Labour Employment, Training and Factories Department, Hyderabad, by which prayer of the petitioner to refer the dispute to the Labour Court, was rejected. The petitioner was working as a Time Scale Worker in Andhra Pradesh Dairy Development Cooperative Federation Limited since 1981. He was issued with a charge sheet on 28-3-1984 wherein it was alleged that he was un-authorizedly carrying 3 ½ kg ghee packets. He submitted his explanation to the charge sheet denying the charges leveled against him. Thereafter, an enquiry was conducted and a show cause notice was issued on 4-3-1986. The petitioner submitted his explanation to the said show cause notice on 14-3-1986. However, the petitioner was found guilty and proceedings were issued on 24-4-1986 imposing the punishment of stoppage of three annual grade increments with cumulative effect. The petitioner averred that in the year 1986 he was not keeping good health and therefore, he sent leave application to the authorities seeking grant of leave. The respondents issued charge sheet on 4-10- 1986 on the ground that he was unauthorisedly absent to duty from 5-9-1986 to 7-10-1986. Thereafter, an enquiry was conducted and a show cause notice was issued to the petitioner. The petitioner submitted his explanation on 5-2-1988. However, the respondents passed the order on 13-10-1988 imposing the punishment of stoppage of one annual grade increment without cumulative effect. Thereafter, the petitioner was issued with another charge sheet dated 2.5.1989 alleging that he was un-authorizedly absent for 127 days during the period from 1983 to 31.12.1987 in different spells. He submitted his explanation to the charge sheet. However, the respondents passed the order dated 12- 09-1989 imposing the punishment of stoppage of two annual grade increments with cumulative effect. The petitioner challenged the proceedings dated 24.4.1986, 13.10.1988 and 12.9.1989 and raised an industrial dispute before the Conciliation Officer-cum-Deputy Commissioner of Labour, Hyderabad. However, in the conciliation proceedings, the Conciliation Officer sent the failure report to the Government on 1-10-2001. The claim of the petitioner for adjudication was rejected vide proceedings dated 18-2-2002 on the ground that the dispute was raised after a lapse of 11 years, which is challenged in this writ petition. The Supreme Court in Shalimar Works Ltd., vs. Their Workman[1] observed that though it is true that no time limit is prescribed for reference of disputes to Industrial Tribunal, it is only reasonable that disputes should be referred as soon as possible and opined that reference for adjudication after four years, from the date of cause of action, is not reasonable. As the petitioner had raised the industrial dispute with inordinate delay of more than 11 years, his request for referring the matter to the Labour Court has rightly been rejected by the competent authority. In view of the same, I do not find any merit in this writ petition and the same is liable to be dismissed. In the result, the writ petition is dismissed. No costs. ________________________ ASHUTOSH MOHUNTA,J rkk Dated: 20-10-2011 [1] 1959-II-LLJ-26)s