IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE S.SIRI JAGAN FRIDAY, THE 8TH FEBRUARY 2008 / 19TH MAGHA 1929 WP(C).No. 4725 of 2008(K) ------------------------- PETITIONER: ------------ MICHAEL VAN INGEN, S/O. BOTHA VAN INGEN, MANAGING PARTNER, BRAHMAGIRI B ESTATE, THOLPETTY POST, THIRUNELLY VILLAGE, MANANTHAVADY, WAYANAD DISTRICT. BY ADV. SRI.K.JAYAKUMAR SRI.P.B.KRISHNAN SRI.R.SURAJ KUMAR SMT.GEETHA P.MENON SMT.V.DEEPA RESPONDENTS: ------------- 1. THE DISTRICT LABOUR OFFICER, KALPETTA, WAYANAD. 2. NORTH WAYANAD ESTATE LABOUR UNION, REGN.NO.1997/55, HEAD OFFICE - MANANTHAVADY, WAYANAD DISTRICT, REPRESENTED BY ITS GENERAL SECRETARY, SRI. K.V.MOHANAN. 3. MALABAR ESTATE WORKERS UNION, THIRUNELLI AREA COMMITTEE, POST THIRUNELLI, WAYANAD-670 646, REPRESENTED BY ITS PRESIDENT, K.G.RAMAKRISHNAN. 4. THE DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE, MANANTHAVADY, NORTH WAYANAD. 5. THE CIRCLE INSPECTOR OF POLICE, MANANTHAVADY, NORTH WAYANAD. 6. THE SUB INSPECTOR OF POLICE, THIRUNELLY, NORTH WAYANAD. G.P. SHRI.A.J.VARGHESE THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 08/02/2008, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: S.SIRI JAGAN, J. ================== W.P.(C).No.4725 of 2008 ================== Dated this the 8th day of February, 2008 J U D G M E N T In view of certain disputes raised by the union of the petitioner-coffee estate, work in the estate is in a stand-still. The matter has been taken up in conciliation under the Industrial Disputes Act by the 1st respondent. Conciliation proceedings drags on. At the same time, the petitioner is not in a position to get the harvesting done because of the obstruction caused by the unions. In the above circumstances, the petitioner has come up with this writ petition for a direction to the 1st respondent to finalise the conciliation proceedings and to direct respondents 1 and 4 to 6 to take necessary steps to enable the petitioner to carry out the harvesting and other work in the estate employing the workers specified in Ext.P1 muster roll and other temporary workers of his choice, without obstruction from respondents 2 and 3. 2. I have considered the arguments of the petitioner. In the nature of the order I propose to pass, I do not think it w.p.c.4725/08 2 necessary to issue notice to respondents 2 and 3. I have heard the learned Government Pleader who appears for other respondents. 3. In the nature of the dispute now before the 1st respondent and in view of the fact that harvesting season is going on, it is only appropriate that the 1st respondent tries to get the matter settled expeditiously in order to prevent national waste. It would be a national waste, if the harvesting is not done expeditiously. Therefore, I direct the 1st respondent to complete the conciliation proceedings, which have been set in motion, as evidenced by Ext.P2, as expeditiously as possible, at any rate, within one month from the date of receipt of a copy of this judgment. The writ petition is disposed of as above. Sd/- sdk+ S.SIRI JAGAN, JUDGE ///True copy/// P.A. to Judge w.p.c.4725/08 3