Case: J.H. Patel (D) BY LRS. &amp; Others Vs. Nuboard Manufacturing Co. Ltd. &amp; Others

2. The facts leading to this appeal are this wise. One Mr. J.H. Patel, was elected on 8.5.1996 as the General Secretary of the Nuboard Karmachari Sangh, a Trade Union registered under the provisions of the Trade Unions Act. The said Karmachari Sangh was affiliated to Hind Majdoor Panchayat. One Mr. Ram Kishan was the Organizing Secretary and Mr. Asha Ram was the Vice President of the said Karnachari Sangh. It is the further case of the workmen that on 20.8.1977 they wrote to the Registrar of the Trade Unions, U.P. at Kanpur to declare their office bearers, including the above three persons, as the "protected workmen", and they were so declared by the Registrar of Trade Unions by his letter dated 15.2.1978.3. It is the case of the workmen that on 10.4.1977, after the formation of the Trade Union, when the aforesaid J.H. Patel was collecting subscription from the members of the Union, he was called to the office of the employer, and was told to refrain from conducting the Trade Union activities, and the Receipt Book and the subscription which he had collected, was snatched away from him. The said Mr. Patel went to the Police Station to lodge a complaint, but the complaint was not recorded, and therefore he was constrained to file a criminal complaint before the concerned Magistrate. There was no dispute that in that complaint, officers of the respondent Company including A.H. Shah, Director and J.B. Dalal, Administrative Manager, were arraigned as accused. The complaint was taken up by the Magistrate but inasmuch as the evidence was found insufficient, the learned Magistrate held that the complaint was not proved, and therefore by his judgment and order dated 29.6.1978 acquitted all the four accused including the aforesaid two officers of the respondent Company.4. Thereafter, the management of the respondent Company chose to serve a charge-sheet dated 15.7.1978 on the concerned workmen. In the said charge-sheet, essentially the charge was that the workmen concerned had lodged a report to the Superintendent of Police, Rampur, containing false allegations against four officers of the management, and that was done with an intent that the police officer should use the lawful power against the said persons. There is no dispute that the workmen filed an explanation and that despite the explanation, no inquiry was held and an order of dismissal was passed on 17.7.1978. In fact the order dated 17.7.1978 in terms states: "In view of the self evident fact no further inquiry in the matter is called for, a copy of the judgment of the Special Judicial Magistrate, Rampur speaks for itself." Therefore, on that basis the dismissal order was passed.5. The appellants workmen challenged their dismissal from service leading to the aforesaid Adjudication Case No.95 of 1979 before the Labour Court. In the proceeding before the Labour Court, essentially three issues were raised by the workmen. Firstly, that they were "protected workmen" and action against them was not justified. Secondly, that another proceeding was pending before the Labour Court and in view of the provision of Section 6E(2)(b) of the Uttar Pradesh Industrial Disputes Act which is in pari passu to Section 32(2)(b) of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, an approval application was required to be filed and inasmuch as the said application was not filed, the termination was bad in law. Thirdly, that the misconduct as alleged was not proved, and that lodging a criminal case against the officers of the respondent Company was not a misconduct.6. In the adjudication case before the Labour Court, the workmen examined themselves and the management examined, amongst others, Mr. A.H. Shah, Director (EW-1) and Mr. J.B. Dalal, Administrative Officer (E-2). The Labour Court accepted the contention of the management with respect to the misconduct, but held that no inquiry was held at the departmental level prior to the order of dismissal. Thus, there was denial of the principles of natural justice and fairness. Hence, although it declined reinstatement, it passed the order granting 50% of the back-wages from the date of dismissal until the date of judgment and order passed by the Labour Court i.e. 31.3.1981. Being aggrieved by that judgment and order of the Labour Court, the management filed the earlier referred writ petition to dispute the award of this compensation and the workmen filed the other writ petition to challenge that part of the order which denied them reinstatement.7. The learned Single Judge of the High Court heard both the writ petitions together and formed an opinion that the removal was justified in view of the earlier decision of the Criminal Court and therefore, held that the award of back-wages was not contemplated. He therefore set aside that part of the order of the Labour Court by his judgment and order dated 23.5.2003. Being aggrieved by this judgment and order the appellants have filed this appeal by special leave.

Court's reasoning:
In the present case, there is no discussion whatsoever about the evidence as to why the Labour Court came to the conclusion that the misconduct is established. In the circumstances, the findings of the Labour Court cannot be sustained that the management had proved the misconduct. Inasmuch as the misconduct was not proved, the workmen were entitled to get the relief that they were seeking, namely the declaration that the termination of their services was bad in law and then the consequential relief. When the matter was carried to the High Court, the High Court also lost sight of that fact and, on the other hand, it deleted whatever compensation was awarded to the workmen by the Labour Court. In our view, the order of the High Court is erroneous on the very ground.12. In the circumstances, this appeal will have to be allowed which we hereby allow, set aside the order of the High Court as well as that of the Labour Court and decide the dispute raised by the workmen in their favour, namely that the termination of their services was unjustified on merits.13. Then we come to the aspect of relief. Out of three appellants before this Court, J.H. Patel has expired and his heirs are on record. Mr. Upadhyay does not dispute that as far as the other two workmen Mr. Asharam and Ram Kishan are concerned, they must have reached the age of superannuation. In the circumstances, we award compensation to these workmen towards back-wages quantified at 50%, with interest at 6% per annum, from the date of dismissal until the date of superannuation/death, whichever is earlier.At this stage, on instructions, Mr. Chaudhary, learned counsel appearing for the respondents states that the first respondent Company is no longer functioning, and a proceeding is pending before the BIFR. He therefore makes a request that the back-wages be reduced to 40% and no interest be awarded thereon. Mr. Upadhyay learned counsel for the appellants submits that the appellants are agreeable to this suggestion provided the said amount is paid within a period of three months hereafter. In the circumstances, we give this option to the first respondent viz to pay 40% of the back-wages from the date of dismissal until the date of superannuation/death, whichever is earlier provided the amount is so paid within three months. If the compensation is so paid, the amount of interest will stand waived. In the event, however, the amount of 40% is not paid within a period of three months hereafter, the earlier part of the order, namely that respondent No.1 should pay 50% of the back-wages with 6% interest will be operative.