Case: Tata Consulting Engineers Vs. Workmen Employed and Vice-Versa

Rs. 7, 64, 256/-. The statement then goes on to indicate that if a flat increase of Rs. 75/-per month were given to individual workmen of a ll categories the total increase would be Rs. 5, 78, 220/-. Again, if the flat increase is Rs. 65/- per month to the individual workmen of all categories, the additional load would total Rs. 4, 97, 772/-. Finally, on the basis that the individual Draughtsman would be given an increase of Rs. 75/- per month and the individual workmen of other categories Rs. 50/- per month, the additional load was calculated at Rs. 4, 63, 092/-. It will be noted that the statement, Exhibit C -51, was prepared on the basis of the employees strength as in December, 1971. A similar statement was prepared on the basis of the employees strength as in September, 1978. These statements cannot be regarded as evidence that the appellant was cognizant of the intention of the Tribunal to provide a flat increase to the pay of each workman. The statement afforded an indication merely of what the additional financial load would be if a flat increase was given to the individual workman on the alternative basis set forth therein. None of the alternatives was actually adopted by the Tribunal, because when the award was made the Tribunal proceeded instead to restructure the wage scales by the addition of Rs. 150/- in the case of the category of Draughtsmen and Rs. 100/- in the case of other categories to the initial pay in the wage scales pertaining to those categories. The addition was integrated as a feature of the wage scales; it was not regarded as an add ition to the pay of each individual workman.It seems that the Tribunal was betrayed by a curious confusion in accepting the plea of the Union that a flat increase to the pay of each workman was intended in the original wage and, consequently, it fell into the error of amending the award. The evidence contained in the award throughout provides incontrovertible proof that this flat increase was never originally intended in the award. The amendment has resulted in the Tribunal m aking, as it were, a supplementary award, whereby a further relief is being granted beyond that granted in the original award. The original award was completed and signed by the Tribunal, and it cannot be reopened now except for the limited pu rpose of Rule 31. In travelling outside and beyond the terms of the original award, the Tribunal has committed a jurisdictional error. Our attention has been drawn to what purports to be an endorsement by counsel for the appellant on the application dated 22nd December, 1978 filed by the Union before the Tribunal to the effect that the appellant would submit to whatever the Tribunal decided, and it is urged that the appellant is bound by the order made on the application. It is an accepted principle that consent by a party cannot confer jurisdiction on a court. What is without jurisdiction will remain so. In the circumstances the order of 22nd December, 1978 is invalid so far as it amends paragraph 23 of the original award. The corrigendum amending the award in consequence is liable to be quashed. The second contention of the appellant is entitled to succeed.17. I shall now consider Civil Appeal No. 2300 of 1979 filed by the workmen. The only contention of th e workmen is that the Tribunal should have fixed the dearness allowance in communion with the cost of living index. It is wrong in principle, it is said, to provide a fixed dearness allowance. Reliance was placed on The Hindustan Times Ltd., New Delhi v. Their Workmen where it was observed by this Court that dearness allowance should not remain fixed at any figure but should be on a sliding scale in order to neutralise a portion of the increase in the cost of living. Reference was also made to Bengal Chemical &Pharmaceutical Works Limited v. Its Workmen. Now, it is not a universal rule that the dearness allowance should in all cases be correlated with the cost of living index. The Tribunal, in the present case, considered the matter and found it sufficient and in accord with justice that the wage scales should be restructured with suitable increments provided therein. It noted that dearness allowance was being granted by the appellant at 10% of the salary sub ject to a minimum of Rs. 50/- and house rent allowance at 30% of the basic salary. Having regard to the not inconsiderable improvement in the level of the basic wage, it observed that there would be a consequent increase in the dearness al lowance and house rent allowance. In view of the increase so secured, the Tribunal rejected the suggestion that a slab system should be introduced in the dearness allowance or that there should be any other modification of the principle on which dear ness allowance was being presently granted. It declared that the cumulative effect of an improved wage structure together with dearness allowance operating on a slab system would throw an impossible burden of about Rs. 1 crore on the financial capacity of the appellant. It was open to the Tribunal to adopt the position which it did. If the dearness allowance is linked with the cost of living index the whole award will have to be reopened and the entire basis on which it has been m ade will have to be reconsidered. The award is a composite document in which the several elements of increased wage scales, larger increments, longer span of 20 years for earning increments, dearness allowance at 10% of the basic wage, besid es several other benefits, have been integrated into a balanced arrangement in keeping with what the Tribunal has found to be the financial capacity of the appellant. It is not possible to maintain one part of the award and supersede another.Accordingly, the appeal filed by the workmen must fail.18.

Court's decision (1 = petition accepted / positive for appellant, 0 = rejected / negative): 1

Reasoning from the judgment:
1[ds]In its order of 22nd December, 1978, the Tribunal has referred to the statement (Exhibit C-51) filed by the appellant when called upon to indicate the increased financial burden apprehended by it. The Tribunal has relied on this statement as evidence showing that the appellant knew that a flat increase of Rs. 150/- and Rs. 100/-was intended to each of the employees in the category of Draughtsmen and the other categories. In so construing the statement, Exhibit C- 51, the Tribunal has grievously erred. It seems from a perusal of the document, Exhibit C-51, that it is a statement giving trial figures of the increased financial load on different bases. On the basis that a sum of Rs. 150/- per month was add ed to the pay of each Draughtsman and a sum of Rs. 100/- was added to the pay of every other workman, who belonged to the Union staff, the financial load would increase to Rs. 9, 22, 032/-. Likewise, if a flat increase of Rs. 100/- was given to individual workmen of all categories, including Draughtsmen, the increased financial load would total Rs. 7, 64, 256/-. The statement then goes on to indicate that if a flat increase of Rs. 75/-per month were given to individual workmen of a ll categories the total increase would be Rs. 5, 78, 220/-. Again, if the flat increase is Rs. 65/- per month to the individual workmen of all categories, the additional load would total Rs. 4, 97, 772/-. Finally, on the basis that the individual Draughtsman would be given an increase of Rs. 75/- per month and the individual workmen of other categories Rs. 50/- per month, the additional load was calculated at Rs. 4, 63, 092/-. It will be noted that the statement, Exhibit C -51, was prepared on the basis of the employees strength as in December, 1971. A similar statement was prepared on the basis of the employees strength as in September, 1978. These statements cannot be regarded as evidence that the appellant was cognizant of the intention of the Tribunal to provide a flat increase to the pay of each workman. The statement afforded an indication merely of what the additional financial load would be if a flat increase was given to the individual workman on the alternative basis set forth therein. None of the alternatives was actually adopted by the Tribunal, because when the award was made the Tribunal proceeded instead to restructure the wage scales by the addition of Rs. 150/- in the case of the category of Draughtsmen and Rs. 100/- in the case of other categories to the initial pay in the wage scales pertaining to those categories. The addition was integrated as a feature of the wage scales; it was not regarded as an add ition to the pay of each individual workman.It seems that the Tribunal was betrayed by a curious confusion in accepting the plea of the Union that a flat increase to the pay of each workman was intended in the original wage and, consequently, it fell into the error of amending the award. The evidence contained in the award throughout provides incontrovertible proof that this flat increase was never originally intended in the award. The amendment has resulted in the Tribunal m aking, as it were, a supplementary award, whereby a further relief is being granted beyond that granted in the original award. The original award was completed and signed by the Tribunal, and it cannot be reopened now except for the limited pu rpose of Rule 31. In travelling outside and beyond the terms of the original award, the Tribunal has committed a jurisdictional error. Our attention has been drawn to what purports to be an endorsement by counsel for the appellant on the application dated 22nd December, 1978 filed by the Union before the Tribunal to the effect that the appellant would submit to whatever the Tribunal decided, and it is urged that the appellant is bound by the order made on the application. It is an accepted principle that consent by a party cannot confer jurisdiction on a court. What is without jurisdiction will remain so. In the circumstances the order of 22nd December, 1978 is invalid so far as it amends paragraph 23 of the original award. The corrigendum amending the award in consequence is liable to be quashed. The second contention of the appellant is entitled toTribunal, in the present case, considered the matter and found it sufficient and in accord with justice that the wage scales should be restructured with suitable increments provided therein. It noted that dearness allowance was being granted by the appellant at 10% of the salary sub ject to a minimum of Rs. 50/- and house rent allowance at 30% of the basic salary. Having regard to the not inconsiderable improvement in the level of the basic wage, it observed that there would be a consequent increase in the dearness al lowance and house rent allowance. In view of the increase so secured, the Tribunal rejected the suggestion that a slab system should be introduced in the dearness allowance or that there should be any other modification of the principle on which dear ness allowance was being presently granted. It declared that the cumulative effect of an improved wage structure together with dearness allowance operating on a slab system would throw an impossible burden of about Rs. 1 crore on the financial capacity of the appellant. It was open to the Tribunal to adopt the position which it did. If the dearness allowance is linked with the cost of living index the whole award will have to be reopened and the entire basis on which it has been m ade will have to be reconsidered. The award is a composite document in which the several elements of increased wage scales, larger increments, longer span of 20 years for earning increments, dearness allowance at 10% of the basic wage, besid es several other benefits, have been integrated into a balanced arrangement in keeping with what the Tribunal has found to be the financial capacity of the appellant. It is not possible to maintain one part of the award and supersede another.Accordingly, the appeal filed by the workmen must fail.