Raja Bahadur Motilal Poona Mills Ltd. vs Girni Kamgar Sanghathana, Poona on 8 December, 1978 Equivalent citations: AIR1981SC409, 1980LABLC1318, (1979)4SCC531, 1979(11)UJ259(SC), AIR 1981 SUPREME COURT 409, 1980 LAB. I. C. 1318, 1979 UJ (SC) 259, 1979 (4) SCC 531, 1980 SCC (L&S) 33 Author: V.R. Krishna Iyer Bench: A.D. Koshal, D.A. Desai, V.R. Krishna Iyer JUDGMENT V.R. Krishna Iyer, J. 1. This appeal has been set down for hearing on more than one occasion and has taken us considerable time not because the facts are complicated, nor because principles governing the decision are novel, but because attempts were made after some discussion in Court, to see if difference could be ironed out and smooth relations established between the employer and the workmen. While we have been benefited by charts and statistics, we have not been able to arrive at an agreed solution to the problem. 2. The question basically turns on to the increase in the Dearness Allowance demanded by the workmen and eventually granted by the Industrial Court in its award. We are concerned with a solitary Textile Mill in Poona. Although there are no other Textile Mills in Poona yet there are a few Textile Mills in Sholapur with which the Poona Dearness Allowance rates have been linked up historically, not necessarily rationally. Further away, we have Bombay, which has round about 65 Textile Mills. Unfortunately, the cost of Jiving index was available for Sholapur and Bombay but not for Poona until 1965, so much so that Dearness Allowance for workmen of Poona Textile Mills was always linked to the Consumer Price Index of Sholapur, which, in one sense, is artificial but in another historical. Sholapur has had its fluctuating fortunes in respect of textile mills but Poona has had an undisturbed course in regard to the economics of the mill in question. A time has come as substantially agreed to by the counsel on both sides, when Poona Index, in a sense must realistically govern the Dearness Allowance for the workmen in Poona especially in the industry with which we are concerned here. We have looked at the problem in the light of the various reasons given by the Court and in the further light of comments and criticisms offered by both sices. May be there may be some force in the criticism made by the management here and there. There is something to be said in favour of the attitude of the Court having regard to the submissions made by the workmen's counsel. Perfection of logic is beyond law much more in the field of Industrial Jurisprudence. Impeccable approaches and meticulous mathematics are alien to this branch of law. We are Raja Bahadur Motilal Poona Mills Ltd. vs Girni Kamgar Sanghathana, Poona on 8 December, 1978  1 concerned with the pragmatics of law geared to social justice liberated from legalistics. 3. However, certain basics are clear and indeed fundamental. The constitutional principles of Part IV expressed in Articles 38, 39 and 39A and values enshrined in the Preamble inform and enliven this department of jurisprudence. Flexibility, not rigicity, broader considerations, not fantical adherence, govern this jurisdiction. Of course, the parameters of industrial law have been made clear for decades by this Court, and those guidelines have been, time and again, referred to and reinforced. We are not called upon to launch on a fresh discussion of the first principles. What is called for is application of those principles, not with finical nicety but with flexible viability. From ore angle it may appear that any decision regarding Dearness Allowance has a touch of arbitrariness or a colour of caprice; from another it may appear unrealistic or unworkable. These are the unavoidable features of this branch of law where actually decisions have to be reached by the application of well-tried principles to the concrete figures presenting themselves. 4. Ultimately, humanism projects itself more than any other. This Court has pointed out that where we deal with the lowest brackets of wages, neutralisation on account of in flationary spirals must be hundred per cent be cause the right to life with bare necessaries cannot be shrunken still further. The higher ranges admit of or accommodate lesser percentage in the matter of neutralisation. 5. We have heard counsel at some length. We have had figures offered to us from both sides. We have experimented with possibilities of results with one formula or ether adopted. We have ultimately reached a conclusion without interfering with the ratiocination of the Tribunal but at the same time moderating the figures to some extent with a view to producing maximum just ice in the specific situation. We make it abundantly clear that we do not profess to lay down any fresh principles of law but proceed to apply what has already been the law to the given circumstances. We do not give elaborate reasons in explanation of cur re-adjustment of the percentage. Such arguments, if we launch upon them, are likely to give rise to misleading inference in future. 6. We bold that the Court is substantially sound in its conclusions. We further hold that a miner modification is necessary. We bifurcate the span of time covered by the adjudication. The first period will be from 1.1.1974 to 31-10-1978. The second period will commence from 1-11-1978 onwards. All that we do is to substitute a different percentage in place of the one assigned in the award. 7. At this stage, we wish to emphasize two circumstances before we reach the specific conclusion. As stated earlier, the Dearness Allowance of the Textile Workers in this Poona Industry must once and for ail be related solely to the Poona based Consumer Price Index This involves not merely a delinking with Sholapur Consumer Price Index but a basic equation at seine point of time so that it may be released from the Sholapur based indices Therefore, we direct that the Consumer Peice index for Poona (GPl) will be adapted for Poona as on 1-1-1974 equated to the Sholapur index ruling on that date. Thereafter, the consumer price index for Poona alone Will be looked into for quantifying the Dearness Allowance. Raja Bahadur Motilal Poona Mills Ltd. vs Girni Kamgar Sanghathana, Poona on 8 December, 1978  2 8. The next question is as to what percentage should be adopted. The Court had adopted 90% of Sholapur. So far as future rises are concerned, it has fixed 5 p. per point of the Poona Index. What we propose to do is as follows :- We affirm the fixation of the equation so for as Poona is concerned as on 1-1-1974 as done by the Court, but not as 90%, but at 77.5% of the Sholapur CPI, The figures so arrived at will be the numerical figure of Dearness Allowance at ruling Poona CPI on 1-1-1974 and which will thereafter prevail for further equation so far as this industry is concerned. Those further equations will be made no longer with reference to Sholapur but only with reference to Poona Consumer Pace Index. This will be done by calculating increase in every point not at 5p. per point as the court has awarded but at 77.5/90 x 5 p. per point. 9. We further direct that for computing D. A payable from 1-11-1978 the appellant shall quantify D.A. at 80% of Sholapur CPI as on 1-1-1974 and that figure will be taken as stating point of calculation of D.A. for the appellant mills workmen as related to ruling Poona CPI on 1-1-1974. There after future increase will be qualified at 80/90 x 5 per each point of rise till 1-11-1978 and that quantified figure would be D A at ruling Poona CPI for workmen and future rise will be given as per formula in this para. For the period 1-1-1974 to 31-10-1978 this will remain a notional figure and will become effective From 1-11-1978. 10. What we direct above will be the award in substitution of the award passed by the Court. We make it further clear that while we award full cost to the respondents, we do not award any interest on the difference becoming payable as herein directed. We also make it cleat that the sum of Rs. 6/- payable as per the recommendations of the second Wage Board will continue to be paid so long as it continues to be paid by the other mills. 11. There is another reference pending between the same parties, that is, Ref. (IC) No. 85/74. Of course, it is not pending before us and so we have no jurisdiction to adjudicate on it. Even so, the Court which is seized of the matter will have due regard to the directions given herein and mould relief in accordance with justice and in tune with this order. The pending reference i.e. 1C No. 85/74 is very old and needs to be disposed of expeditiously. Indeed, in the light of what we have decided, it lends itself to early disposal and we direct the Court to do so. The entire amount by way of arreas made on the basis of the new formula we have directed by this Older, will be payable in four equal quarterly instalments with interest at 12%. The interest will be paid at 12% from today until the date of payment of final instalment. The first instalment will be payable on 1st March, 1979. 12. Appellant to pay costs of the Respondent quantified at Rs. 5,000/-. Raja Bahadur Motilal Poona Mills Ltd. vs Girni Kamgar Sanghathana, Poona on 8 December, 1978  3