M.P. STATE ELECTRICITY BOARD A

SMT. JARINA BEE

JULY 15, 2003

[DORAISWAMY RAJU ANDARIJITPASAYAT, JJ.] B

labour laws:

Dismissal of Employee-Allegation of theft-Dismissal set aside by labour Court with direction to reinstate-Industrial Court and High Court C holding him entitled to full back wages-In the meantime death of employee rendering the order of reinstatement infructuous-On appeal-Held, award of full back wages is not the natural consequence when an order of dismissal is set aside-However, in the facts of the case payment of Rs. 85,000 towards back wages would meet the ends of justice.

Husband of respondent was employed with the appellant-Board. His services were terminated on the allegation of theft The removal was challenged before labour court who held that since departmental enquiry was not conducted in accordance with the principles of natural justice the dismissal was bad. Direction was given for his reinstatement and Board was granted E opportunity to prove his misconduct. Both the Board and the employee preferred appeals before Industrial Court, which allowed the appeal of employee holding that when an order of dismissal was set aside, entitlement for full back wages was automatic. During pendency of the case before Industrial Court, the employee died .and hence direction for his reinstatement became F infructuous. On challenge of the order of Industrial Court, High Court held that when a charge was not established at all and the order of removal was set aside, award of back wages was the natural consequence. Hence the present appeal.

Allowing the appeal, the Court

HELD: l. High Court committed an error in holding that the award of full back wages was the natural consequence when an order of dismbsal is set aside. 1537-DI

A P.G.l. of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh v. Raj Kumar,

JT (2001) I SC 336; Hindustan Motors ltd v. Tapan Kumar Bhattacharya and Anr., (2002) AIR SCW 3008 and Indian Railway Construction Co. ltd.

v. Ajay Kumar, JT (2003) SC 295, relied on.

2. Considering the background of the case and the fact that the order of dismissal was found to be defective as the principles of natural justice were not properly followed, and an opportunity was granted to the Board to proceed C in accordance with law, and the fact that the employee has expired in the meantime, payment of Rs. 85,000 towards back wages would meet the ends of justice. (538-C-DI

CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION : Civil Appeal No. 460 I of2003.

D From the Judgment and Order dated 8.10.2002 of the Madhya Pradesh High Court in W.P. No. 2350 of2002.

Satish K. Agnihotri, for the Appellant.

B.S. Banthia for the Respondent.

E The Judgment of the Court was delivered by

ARIJIT PASAYAT, J. Leave granted.

The primal issue involved in this appeal is whether award of full back wages is the natural consequence when an order of dismissal is set aside. The F High Court of Madhya Pradesh at Jabalpur held it to be so, and that is why the Madhya Pradesh State Electricity Board (hereinafter referred to as 'the Board') filed this appeal.

Factual background which is almost undisputed is as follows :-

G One Habib Khan (hereinafter referred to as the 'employee'). husband of respondent Smt. Jarina Bee, was employed as a Line Attendant, Grade-II in the Board. On the allegation that he was responsible for theft of large quantity of aluminum wire, criminal case was lodged and departmental proceedings were initiated. In the departmental inquiry he was found guilty and was H removed from service on 20.1.1996. Such removal was challenged by him before the Labour Court-I, Bhopal. The said Court held that since departmental inquiry was not conducted in accordance with the principles of natural justice, the dismissal was bad. Direction was given for reinstatement of employee by

M.P. STATE ELECTRICITY BOARD v . .I ARIN A BEE [PASA Y AT . .I.] 537

granting opportunity to the Board to prove his misconduct. While directing A reinstatement, it was held that he was not entitled to any back wages. Both the Board and the employee preferred appeals before the Industrial Court, Bench at Bhopal. By order dated 11.2.2002, the Industrial Court allowed the appeal filed by the employee, while dismissing the one filed by the Board. It was held that when an order of dismissal was set aside, entitlement for full B back wages was automatic.

During the pendency of the matter before tl~P lrdlJstrial Court the employee breathed his last. Therefore, the direction for re-instatement has become infructuous.

The Board challenged the order of the Industrial Court before the High C Court which by the impugned judgment dated 8th October 2002 held that when a charge was not established at all and the order of removal is set aside award of back wages was the natural consequence.

Shri S.K. Agnihotri, learned counsel appearing for the Board, submitted D that the Industrial Court as well as the High Court fell in grave error by holding that the award of back wages was the natural consequence in . all cases where the order of removal was set aside. Mr. B.S. Banthia, learned counsel appearing for the respondent (widow of the employee) submitted that the High Court was justified in its conclusion considering the fact that the order of dismissal was without sanctity in law. Alternatively, it was submitted E that full back wages are to be paid, considering the nature of the allegations and findings recorded by the Labour Court, Industrial Court and the High Court and the directions cannot be faulted on the facts of the case.

In P.G.I. of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh v. Raj Kumar (JT 200l(I) SC 336), this Court found fault with ttfe High Court in setting aside F the award of the Labour Court which restricted the back wages to 60% and directing payment of full back wages. It was observed thus:

"The labour court being the final court of facts came to a conclusion that payment of 60% wages would comply with the requirement of law. G The finding of perversity or being erroneous or not in accordance with law shall have to be recorded with reasons in order to assail the finding of the Tribunal or the labour Court. It is not for the High Court to go into the factual aspects of the matter and there is an existing limitation on the High Court to that effect."

A Again at paragraph 12, this Court observed:

"Payment of back wages having a discretionary element involved in it has to be dealt with, in the facts and circumstances of each case and no straight-jacket formula can be evolved, though, however, there is statutory sanction to direct payment of back wages in its entirety."

The position was reiterated in Hindustan Motors Ltd v. Tapan Kumar Bhattacharya and Anr., (2002) AIR SCW 3008 and Indian Railway Construction Co. ltd v. Ajay Kumar, JT (2003) 2 SC 295.

Applying the legal principles, the inevitable conclusion is that the High C Court committed an error in holding that the award of full back wages was the natural consequence.

That brings us to the alternate submission of the learned counsel for the respondent. Considering the background of the case and the fact that the order of dismissal was found to be defective as the principles of natural D justice were not properly followed, and an opportunity was granted to the Board to proceed in accordance with law, and the fact that the employee has expired in the meantime, we feel the payment of Rs. 85,000 towards back wages would meet the ends of justice. The payment is to be made within a period of 8 weeks from today. If any amount has been paid pursuant to the E directions given by the Industrial Court and/or the High Court, the same shall be adjusted from the aforesaid sum. If any payment has been made in excess of the amount, the Board shall be entitled to refund thereof.

The appeal is allowed to the extent indicated above. Costs made easy.

K.K.T.

Appeal allowed.