P. Karupaiah (D) Thr v. The General Manager Thruuvalluvar Transport Corporation Ltd.

ABHAY MANOHAR SAPRE, J. 1. This appeal is filed by the cmploycG against the final judgment and order dated 07 .12 .2006 passed by the High Court of Judicature at Madras in W.A. No. 1848 of2000 whereby the Division Bench of the High Court dismissed the appeal filed by the appellant herein and upheld the judgment dated 03.08.2000 of the Single Judge in W. P. No. 10314l>f1996 by which the appellant was denied the back wages for the period from 21.07.1994 to 31.08.1999.

¶2Facts of the case lie in a narrow compass so also the controversy involved iit the appeal as would be clear from the narration ofrelevant facts hereinbelow.

¶3The only question involved in the appeal filed by an employee against his employer is whether the appellant is entitled.to claim back wages for the period in question, i.e., 21.07.1994to31.08.1999?

¶4The learned Single Judge and Division Bench of the High Court declined to award any back wages to the appellant for the period in question and dismissed the appellant's writ petition and intra court appeal. '

¶5The appellant was working as a Driver in the employment of the respondent. The respondent dismissed the appellant from service because he was found involved in one.murder case and was prosecuted for the said offence. · ·"

¶6The Session Court had convicted him butlater he was acquitted by the High Court. After the acquittal by the High Court, the appellant made a request to the respondent for his reinstatement. The respondent allowed the request made by the appellant and reinstated him in service but declined to pay him any back wages for the aforementioned period.

¶7The appellant, felt aggrieved by the decision of the respondent in not paying him any back wages for the period in question, filed writ petition in the High Court and prayed for grant of the relief of back wages.

¶8The learned Single Judge declined to grant any relief of back wages to the appellant and dismissed his writ petition. The Division Bench, in an appeal filed by the appellant against the dismissal of his writ petition, upheld the order of the learned Single Judge and dismissed his appeal giving rise to filing of this appeal by way of special leave by the employee to this Court.

¶9Having heard the learned counsel for the parties and on perusal of the record of the case, we find no merit in the appeal.

¶10The law on the question of award of back wages has taken some shift. It is now ruled in cases that when the dismissal/removal order is set aside/withdrawn by the Courts or otherwise, as the case may be, directing employee's reinstatement in service, the employee docs not become entitled to claim back wages as of right unless the order of reinstatement itself in express terms directs payment of back wages and other benefits. (See 1\1. P. State Electricity Board vs. Jarina Bee (Smt.), (2003) 6 SCC 141)

¶11Indeed, the employee in order to claim the rclicfofback wages ?long with the relief ofreinstatement is required to prove with the aid of evidence that from the date of his dismissal order till the date of his rejoining, he was not gainfully employed anywhere. The employer too has a right to adduce evidence to show otherwise that an employee concerned was gainfully employed during the relevant period and hence not entitled to claim any relief of back wages.

¶12On proving such facts to the satisfaction of the Court, the back wages arc accordingly awarded either in full or part or may even be declined as the ease may be while passing the order of reinstatement. The Courts have also applied in appropriate eases the principle of"No work-No pay" while declining to award back wages and confining the relief only to the extent of grant of reinstatement along with grant of some consequential reliefs"by awarding some benefits notionally, if any, case.

¶13Having seen the record of the case, we arc satisfied that there was no evidence brought on record by the appellant (employee) in his writ petition to claim the back wages for the _period in question either in full or part. Moreover, we find that the issue in question was raised in writ petition and not before the lrtdustrial or Labour Tribunal where parties could adduce evidence on such question. (See proviso to Section 17-B of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947). ·

¶14Be that as it may, the writ Court and the appellate Com1 yet examined the question in its writ jurisdiction and finding no merit therein declined to award any back wages. This Court does not find any good ground to interfere in the discretion exercised by the two Courts below and accordingly uphold the orders impugned herein calling no interference.

¶15Indeed, the appellant should feel satisfied that h~ was able to secure reinstatement in service despite his involvement in a murder case. The appellant should:becontent with what.he has got.

¶16In view of foregoing discussion, the appeal fails and is accordingly dismissed.

CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION: Civll Appeal No. 4160 of 2008

" From the Judgment and Order dated 07.12.2006 oftheHigh Court~ of Judicaturs at Madras in W. A. No. 1848 pf 2000.

Brij Bhushan, Adv. for the Appellant.

T. R. B. Sivakumar, T. Harish Kumar, Advs. for the Respondent.