Mahabir Prosad Choudhary vs M/S Octavius Tea And Industries Ltd. And ...

2. The   issue   involved   in   this   appeal   lies   in   a   very   narrow compass.  The necessary facts of the case to be noticed for deciding the issue are:­ 2.1 The   appellant   was   working   as   Accountant   in   the Reason: respondent   company   since   1986.     There   had   been change   of   management   in   the   year   2004   in   the 2 company.     The   appellant   was   not   allowed   to   work w.e.f.   02.05.2005.     The   State   of   West   Bengal referred the industrial dispute between the company and the appellant to the Fifth Industrial Tribunal. The Tribunal framed the issue as to whether refusal of   employment   to   Shri   Mahabir   Prosad   Choudhary   by the management w.e.f. 02.05.2005 is justified? 2.2 After   receiving   the   reference,   the   Industrial Tribunal   on   27.08.2007   issued   summons   upon   the parties   concerned   directing   them   to   appear   on 19.09.2007.   The workman appeared on 19.09.2007 but no one appeared from the company, since the summons were   received   back   with   the   remarks   “left”. 11.10.2007   was   again   fixed   by   the   Tribunal.     On 11.10.2007, Tribunal noted that summons sent through Process Server has been served upon the company. The advocate for the workman appeared and filed W/S. The W/S was filed without serving the copy of W/S to the company.     On   05.11.2007,   none   of   the   parties   had appeared   and   27.11.2007   was   fixed   for   W/S   by   the company.     On   29.11.2007,   no   one   appeared   on   behalf of   the   company,   the   Tribunal   fixed   for   ex­parte hearing.   26.12.2007 was fixed for documents of the workman.  On 26.12.2007, documents were filed, which 3 were   kept   on   record   and   29.01.2008   was   fixed   for ex­parte hearing.  The Tribunal again on the request of   the   workman   deferred   the   case,   which   was   fixed for ex­parte hearing for 26.02.2008.  On 26.02.2008, none appeared for the company, workman was heard and the   award   was   pronounced.     The   Hon’ble   Tribunal disposed of the award ex­parte by allowing the claim of   reinstatement   with   full   back   wages.     The   award was also published on 27.03.2008.

2.3 The   company   filed   an   application   on   02.05.2008   to recall   the   ex­parte   award.     The   company   stated   in its   application   that   as   per   the   agreement   dated 10.06.2004   with   its   erstwhile   management,   the   new management   has   no   responsibility   in   respect   of senior   executives   and   managerial   staff   of   the   old management   including   the   appellant.     The   company states   that   ex­parte   award   was   received   on 22.04.2008   and   thereafter   an   application   has   been filed   for   recall   of   the   ex­parte   award   dated 26.02.2008.     The   Tribunal   heard   the   parties   on   the application   filed   by   the   company.     The   tribunal although   return   the   finding   that   the   award   was passed in violation of principles of natural justice 4 and no notice under Rule 20B(5) and Rule 21 of the West   Bengal   Industrial   Disputes   Rules,   1958 (hereinafter   referred   to   as   “1958   Rules”)   were served on the company.   The Tribunal, however, took the view that application being filed by the company after   30   days   of   publication   of   the   award,   the Tribunal   has   become   functus   officio,   hence   the application is rejected.

(2) After the first party has complied with the order passed   under   sub   rule   (1),   the   other   party (hereinafter   referred  to   as  the  second   party)  shall be asked to file its written statement and a list of relevant documents which are in their possession and upon which they want to rely on a date fixed by the Industrial   Tribunal/Labour   Court,   which   shall ordinarily be within two weeks from the date of the order.

16. In view of the foregoing discussions, we do not find any error   in   the   judgment   of   the   High   Court.     The   appeal   being devoid of any merit is dismissed.   Parties shall bear their own costs.