IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY ORDINARY ORIGINAL CIVIL JURISDICTION WRIT PETITION NO.849 OF 2009 Hindustan Unilever Limited ...Petitioner V/s. Hindustan Lever Employees Union & Anr. ...Respondents ...... Mr.P.K.Rele, Sr.Counsel with Mr.R.N.Shah, Mr.Rajesh Rele & Mr.Mahesh Londhe i/b M/s.Sanjay Udeshi & Co. for Petitioner. Mr.Bennet D’Costa for Respondents. ...... CORAM: A.M.KHANWILKAR, J. CORAM: A.M.KHANWILKAR, J. CORAM: A.M.KHANWILKAR, J. MAY 5, 2009. MAY 5, 2009. MAY 5, 2009. P.C. P.C. P.C. 1. Heard Counsel for the parties. 2. This Petition takes exception to the orders passed by the Tribunal dated 24th April 2009, 27th April 2009 and 28th April 2009 respectively. The grievance in this Petition is that the Respondents have completed their evidence only on 22nd April 2009. However, having regard to : 2 : the voluminous record involved, the Petitioners insisted for fifteen days time to file its evidence. The Tribunal has rejected that request and called upon the Petitioners to proceed forthwith on the ground that he was bound by the direction of the High Court to decide the reference on or before 29th April 2009. No fault can be found with the learned Judge of the Industrial Court in the light of direction given by the High Court to dispose of the reference before 29th April 2009, which pertains to year 1992. 3. However, by way of indulgence, as last opportunity, Petitioners are granted time to file affidavit in lieu of examination-in-chief of their witness Mr.S.P.Shenoy on or before 8th May 2009. It will be open to the Tribunal to proceed with the cross-examination of the said witness on the same day or such other date as may be convenient to it. The Petitioners through Counsel assure before this Court that the Petitioners would complete their evidence as early as possible, subject to the convenience of the Trial Judge but not later than 30th June 2009. Indeed, the Respondents are : 3 : expected to cooperate with the Trial Court for early conclusion of the Petitioner’s evidence. 4. The Respondents through Counsel assured before this Court to extend full cooperation to the Industrial Court in this behalf, which assurance is accepted. The parties shall appear before the Industrial Court on 8th May 2009, on which date, the Petitioners would produce their evidence and the Respondents may commence cross-examination of the concerned witness on the same day or such other date as may be convenient to that Court. The impugned orders are set-aside on the above condition. 5. Petition disposed of accordingly. A.M.KHANWILKAR, J.