M/S Bahri Hospital v. The Appellate Authority Under the Payment of Gratuity Act and Others

INoTHEoHIGHoCOURToOFoPUNJABoANDoHARYANAoATo CHANDIGARHo o o o o o o o o CWP-15950-2023o(O&M)o o o o o o o o Dateoofodecisiono:o23.08.2023o o o M/SoBAHRIoHOSPITALo o o o o o o o o o o …Petitionero o Versuso o APPELLATEoAUTHORITYoUNDERoTHEoPAYMENToOFoo GRATUITYoACT,o1972-CUM-ADDITIONALoLABOURoo COMMISSIONER,oPUNJABoSASoNAGAR,oMOHALIo ANDoOTHERSo o o o o o o o o o o …Respondentso o CORAM:oo HON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoHARSHoBUNGERo Presento:o Mr.oVivekoSalathia,oAdvocateo o o forotheopetitioner.o o HARSHoBUNGER,oJ.o(ORAL)o CM-13861-2023o o o ThisoisoanoapplicationoforoplacingoonorecordoAnnexuresoP-12oando P-13.o o o Foro theo reasonso mentionedo ino theo application,o theo sameo iso allowed.oAnnexuresoP-12oandoP-13oareotakenoonorecord,osubjectotooallojusto exceptions.o CWP-15950-2023o

1.o o Petitionero(M/soBahrioHospital)ohasofiledotheoinstantowritopetitiono underoArticleso226/227oofotheoConstitutionoofoIndia,oseekingoissuanceoofoao writo ino theo natureo ofo certiorario foro quashingo ofo ordero datedo 16.03.2022o (AnnexureoP-7)opassedobyotheoControllingoAuthorityounderotheoPaymentoofo GratuityoAct,o1972o(here-in-afteroreferredotooaso`theo1972oAct');owhereby,otheo claimooforespondentoNo.3-Smt.oSantoshoKumari,oseekingogratuityofromotheo petitionerowasoallowedoex-parte.o o o Aofurtheroprayerohasobeenomadeoforosettingoaside/quashingoofo orderodatedo23.06.2023o(AnnexureoP-11)opassedobyotheoAppellateoAuthorityo underotheo1972oAct;owherebyotheoappealofiledobyotheopetitioner-hospitalohaso beenodismissed.o

2.o o Briefly,o respondentoNo.3o submittedo ano applicationobeforeotheo Controllingo Authorityo ino Formo `N'o undero theo 1972o Act,o seekingo gratuityo amountofromotheopetitioner-hospitaloonotheopleaothatosheowasoworkingothereo asoaoWardoAttendantosinceoAprilo1999oandosheoisostatedotoohaveoworkedouptoo

10.10.2019.oRespondentono.3oclaimedothatoatotheotimeoofoheroresignation,osheo waso drawingo Rs.10,000/-o p.m.o ando hado renderedo 20o years–06o monthso ofo continuouso serviceo beforeo sheo resignedo fromo theo petitioner-hospitalo ono

10.10.2019.oRespondentono.3oclaimedoanoamountoofoRs.1,15,384.61/-oalongo withointerestofromotheodueodate.o

3.o o Aoperusaloofotheopaper-bookowouldorevealothatonoticeowasoissuedo tootheopetitioner-hospitaloandoDr.oVijayoKumaroBahrioappearedoandofiledohiso reply,obyointeroaliaostatingothatorespondentoNo.3ohadoalreadyofiledoaocaseo beforeotheoIndustrialoTribunal,oAmritsaroclaimingogratuity.oItoappearsothatonoo oneo ono behalfo ofo theo petitioner-hospitalo appearedo beforeo theo Controllingo Authorityo belowo ando waso accordinglyo proceededo againsto ex-parteo ono

06.10.2021.o However,o ono theo basiso ofo theo pleadingso ofo theo parties,o theo followingoissuesowereoframedo:-o "i.o Whethero theo applicanto iso entitledo too claimo theo gratuityofromorespondentoasoclaimedoinotheopetitiono?o ii.o Relief."o o o Inosupportoofoheroclaim,orespondentoNo.3oexaminedoherselfoando tenderedotheofollowingodocumentso:-o o o Sr.oNo.o Documento Exhibito 1o Experienceo Certificateo datedo A-1o

10.08.2013oissuedobyoDr.oVijayoKumaro Bahri,oM/soBahrioHospital,oG.T.oRoad,o Dinanagar,oDistrictoGuradaspur.o 2o ResignationoofoSmt.oSantoshoKumari,o A-2o WardoAttendantodatedo18.11.2019.o 3o Lettero datedo 12.12.2019o foro paymento A-3o ofoserviceobenefits.o 4o Acceptanceo ofo resignationo byo Dr.o A-4o Vijayo Kumaro Bahrimo M/so Bahrio Hospital,o G.T.o Road,o Dinanagar,o DistrictoGurdaspur.o 5o Replyo too lettero datedo 21.12.2019o byo A-5o SantoshoKumari.o o

4.o o Consideringotheomaterial/evidenceoavailableoonotheorecord,otheo ControllingoAuthorityounderotheo1972oAct,opassedoanoorderodatedo16.03.2022o (AnnexureoP-7),oallowingotheoapplicationooforespondentoNo.3obyoholdingoaso undero:-o o o "Fromotheoevidenceoledobyotheoapplicant,oitoisowello provedothatotheoapplicantohasoworkedowithotheorespondento andojoinedoinotheomonthoofoAprilo1999oandoworkedouptoo

10.10.2019.o Sheo waso drawingo Rs.10,000/-o p.m.o Theo evidenceoledobyotheoApplicantoremainedounrebutted.o o o Accordinglyotheorespondentoisoresponsibleotoopayo theogratuityoamountotootheoapplicantobutotheoapplicantohado notobeenopaidoherodueogratuity.oTheoapplicantoisoentitledotoo gratuityoamountoasoundero:-o o o 10,000oxo15ooxo21o ?o Rs.1,21,154/-o o o oooooooo26o o o o Ito iso legalo dutyo casto upono theo employero too payo gratuityo tootheoeligibleo employeeso undero theo Paymento ofo GratuityoActobutoinotheopresentocaseotheoapplicantowasonoto paido anyo Gratuity.o Aso pero provisionso ofo theo act,o theo applicanto iso entitledo too receiveo interesto ono theo delayedo payment.o Henceo Io ordero theo respondento too payo gratuityoGURPREET KAUR amountoofoRs.1,21,154/-oalongowithosimpleointerestotootheo applicanto @o 8%o p.a.o fromo 10.11.2019o tillo actualo realization.o o o Givenothiso16thotheodayoofoMarch,o2022,ounderomyo handoandosealoofocourtoatoGurdaspur.o o o o o o o o o (KunwaroDavar)o o o o o o o o ControllingoAuthorityounderotheo o o o o o o o PaymentoofoGratuityoAct,o1972,o o o o o o o o andoLabour-cum-Conciliationo o o o o o o o Officer,oGurdaspur."oo o o o

5.o o Theoafore-saidoorderoodatedoo16.03.2022o(AnnexureoP-7)owaso challengedo byo theo petitioner-hospitalo byo filingo theo statutoryo appealo undero Sectiono7(7)oofotheo1972oAct;ohowever,otheosaidoappealowasodismissedobyotheo Appellateo Authorityo undero theo 1972o Acto video ordero datedo 23.06.2023o (AnnexureoP-11),obyoholdingoasoundero:-o o o "5.o Iohaveogoneothroughotheorecordoofotheocaseo andoheardotheoargumentsoofotheolearnedocounseloforotheo parties.oTheomainocontentionoofotheoappellantoinotheopresento appealoisothatosinceotheorespondent-employeeohadoalreadyo filedoaocaseoforopaymentoofogratuityobeforeotheoIndustrialo Tribunal,oAmritsar,otherefore,otheoclaimoapplicationofiledo forotheosameopurposeobeforeotheoControllingoAuthorityowaso apparento violationo ofo theo Principleo ofo Res-judicatao ando furtherotheoex-parteoorderodatedo16.3.2022opassedoagainsto theoappellantoisopatentlyoillegaloandoerroneousoonofactsoando law.oOnocarefuloperusaloofotheorecordoofotheoControllingo Authority,oGurdaspur,oitohasobeenofoundothatoupononotice,o wheno theo appellanto appearedo beforeo theo Controllingo Authorityo ono 7.7.2021o ando raisedo objectiono regardingo filingoofocaseobeforeotheoIndustrialoTribunal,oAmritsar,otheo Counselo foro theo Respondento employeeo goto recordedo hiso statementoatotheospotothatotheocaseobeforeotheoIndustrialo Tribunal,oAmritsarowasofiledobyotheorespondentoemployeeo foro paymento ofo leaveo encashmento ando theo Industrialo Tribunalohasonoojurisdictionotoodecideotheoissueoregardingo paymentoofogratuity.oHeohadoalsoomadeoitoclearothatoonlyo theo Controllingo Authorityo haso jurisdictiono too decideo theo issueoregardingopaymentoofogratuity.oHeohadoalsoomadeoito clearothatoonlyotheoControllingoAuthorityohasojurisdictionotoo decideotheoclaimoforopaymentoofogratuityofromotheorecord,oito isoevidentothatotheoControllingoAuthorityoafteroconsideringo theoobjectionoofotheoappellant,ohadoadjournedotheocaseoforo nextodateoono28.7.2021oforofilingowrittenostatementobyotheo appellant.oHowever,otheoappellantodidonotoattendotheocourto ofo theo Controllingo Authorityo ono 28.7.2021,o 4.8.2021,o

18.8.2021,o8.9.2021oando15.9.2021.oEvenoaofineoofoRs.500/-o wasoalsooimposedouponotheoappellantoono15.9.2021,obutotheo appellantofailedotooappearoinotheocourt.oUltimatelyodueotoo non-appearanceo ino theo proceedings,o theo appellanto waso proceededoagainstoex-parteoono6.10.2021oandotheocaseowaso adjournedo too nexto dateso foro ex-parteo evidenceo ofo theo respondentoemployeeoitoisonotooutoofoplaceotoomentionohereo sub-ruleo (5)o ofo Ruleo 11o ofo theo Paymento ofo Gratuityo (Punjab)oRules,o1973,ostipulatesoasoundero:-o "11.oProcedureoofodealingowithoapplicationoforodirectiono:-o o o (1)o xxo o xxo o xxo o o (2)o xxo o xxo o xxo o o (3)o xxo o xxo o xxo o o (4)o xxo o xxo o xxo o o (5)o Ifotheoemployeroconcernedofailsotooappearoono theospecifiedodateoofohearingoafterodueoserviceoofonoticeo withouto sufficiento cause,o theo Controllingo Authorityo mayo proceedotoohearoandodetermineotheoapplicationoex-parte.oIfo theo applicanto failso too appearo ono theo specifiedo dateo ofo hearingowithoutosufficientocause,otheocontrollingoauthorityo mayodismissotheoapplication;o o o Providedothatoanoorderounderothisosub-ruleomayoono goodo causeo beingo showno withino thirtyo dayso ofo theo saido ordero beo reviewedo ando theo applicationo re-heardo aftero givingonotolessothanofourteenodaysonoticeotootheooppositeo partyoofotheodateofixedoforore-hearingoofotheoapplication."o o o Ito iso evidento fromo theo recordo thato theo appellanto neitheroappearedonoromadeoanyoeffortsotoogetotheoex-parteo proceedingso set-asideo withino theo stipulatedo periodo aso mentionedoinotheoaboveorules.oInoviewoofotheseodiscussions,o Io doo agreeo witho theo argumentso ofo theo Counselo foro theo Respondento employeeo thato theo Controllingo Authority,o Gurdaspurohasojurisdictionotoodecideotheoclaimoapplicationo foropaymentoofogratuityounderotheoAct,o1972oandothatotheo ex-parteo proceedingso ino theo caseo wereo withino theo knowledgeo ofo theo appellant,o buto heo willfullyo ando intentionallyo avoidedo theo caseo beforeo theo Controllingo Authority.oTheocontraryoargumentsoadvancedoonobehalfoofo theoappellantohaveobeenofoundotoobeowithoutoanyoforceoofo law.oThus,oIohaveonooreasonotoodifferowithotheoorderopassedo byotheoControllingoAuthority,oGurdaspuroandoasosuchotheo sameoisoupheld.oAccordingly,otheoappellantoisonotoentitledo too anyo reliefo byo wayo ofo thiso appeal.o Theo appealo ofo theo appellantomanagementohasonoomeritoandoisodismissed.oTheo partieso areo lefto too bearo theiro owno costs.o Theo fileo beo consignedotoorecord."o o

6.o o Ino theo afore-mentionedo circumstances,o theo petitioner-hospitalo hasofiledotheoinstantowritopetitionobeforeothisoCourt.o

7.o o Learnedo counselo foro theo petitioner-hospitalo submitso thato theo authoritiesobelowohaveoerredoinolawoandofactsoinopassingotheoimpugnedoorder.o Learnedo counselo foro theo petitionero furthero submitso thato theo Controllingo Authorityohadowronglyoproceededoex-parteoagainstotheopetitioneroinoaohastyo mannero ando theo Controllingo Authorityo hado passedo theo ordero withouto affordingoopportunityoofohearingotootheopetitioner.oItoisosubmittedothatotheo petitionero hado appearedo beforeo theo Controllingo Authorityo ando madeo ao statementothatorespondentoNo.3,ohereinohadoalreadyofiledoaopetitionobeforeotheo Industrialo Tribunal,o Amritsar;o however,o theo saido facto waso noto takeno intoo considerationo ando theo impugnedo ordero waso passedo byo theo Controllingo Authorityo ino ao negligento manner,o withouto conductingo propero enquiry.o Learnedo counselo foro theo petitionero furthero submitso thato respondento No.3ooooooooooooo hadofailedotooproveothatosheowasoworkingowithopetitioner-hospitaloforotheolasto 20oyearsoandotherefore,oitowasonotoprovedoonorecordothatosheohadorenderedo qualifyingoserviceoforoclaimingotheogratuityoamount.oItoisosubmittedothatotheo Controllingo Authorityo haso wronglyo presumedo thato respondento No.3o waso workingosinceo1999oonotheobasisoofocertificateodatedo10.08.2013,owhichotheo counseloforotheopetitionerosubmits,owasoneveroproved.oItoisosubmittedothato eveno theo dateo ofo resignationo ofo respondento No.3o haso noto beeno verified.o LearnedocounseloforotheopetitionerofurtherosubmitsothatosinceorespondentoNo.3o hado alreadyo filedo ano applicationo undero Sectiono 33(C)(2)o ofo theo Industrialo DisputesoAct,o1947obeforeotheoIndustrialoTribunal,oAmritsar;oaccordingly,o sheo couldo noto maintaino theo applicationo foro claimingo gratuityo beforeo theo authoritiesobelow.oItoisonextosubmittedobyolearnedocounseloforotheopetitionero thatoevenotheoAppellateoAuthorityohasofailedotooconsideroandoappreciateotheo submissionsomadeobeforeoitoandohasowronglyodismissedotheoappealoofotheo petitioner.o

8.o o Iohaveoheardolearnedocounseloforotheopetitioneroandoperusedotheo paperobookowithohisoableoassistance.o

9.o o Beforeodealingowithotheocaseoinohand,oitowouldobeoappropriateotoo referotootheojudgmentorenderedobyotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinotheocaseoofo AllahabadoBankov.oAlloIndiaoAllahabadoBankoRetiredoEmps.oAssn.,o2010(1)o SCTo531,owhereinoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtohadoconsideredotheoprovisionsoofotheo Paymento ofo Gratuityo Act,o 1972o ando theo findingso renderedo thereino cano beo summarizedoasounder:- "o(a)oThereoisonooescapeofromopaymentoofogratuityounderotheo provisionso ofo theo Acto unlesso theo establishmento iso grantedo exemptionofromotheooperationoofotheoprovisionsoofotheoActobyo theoappropriateoGovernment.o

(b)oGratuityopayableotooanoemployeeoonotheoterminationoofohiso employmentoafterorenderingocontinuousoserviceoforonotolesso thano 5o yearso ando ono superannuationo oro retiremento oro resignationo etc.o beingo ao statutoryo righto cannoto beo takeno awayoexceptoinoaccordanceowithotheoprovisionsoofotheoActo whereundero ano exemptiono fromo sucho paymento mayo beo grantedoonlyobyotheoappropriateoGovernmentounderoSectiono5o ofotheoActowhichoitselfoisoaoconditionalopower.oNooexemptiono couldobeograntedobyoanyoGovernmentounlessoitoisoestablishedo thato theo employeeso areo ino receipto ofo gratuityo oro pensiono benefitso whicho areo moreo favourableo thano theo benefitso conferredounderotheoAct.o

(c)ooInoviewoofotheooverridingoprovisionsocontainedoinoSectiono 14oofotheoPaymentoofoGratuityoAct,otheoprovisionoforogratuityo underotheoPensionoRulesowillohaveonooeffect.oPossiblyoforothiso reason,o Sectiono 5o ofo theo Paymento ofo Gratuityo Acto haso conferredo authorityo ono theo appropriateo Governmento too exempto anyo establishmento fromo theo operationo ofo theo provisionsoofotheoAct,oifoinoitsoopinionotheoemployeesoofosucho establishmento areo ino receipto ofo gratuityo oro pensionaryo benefitsonotolessofavourableothanotheobenefitsoconferredoundero thisoAct.o[MunicipaloCorporationoDelhiov.oDharamoPrakasho Sharmao&Ors.,o1999(2)oSCTo297].o

(d)oAnoestablishmentoisounderotheostatutoryoobligationotoopayo gratuityoasoprovidedoforounderoSectiono4oofotheoActowhichoiso requiredotoobeoreadoalongowithoSectiono14oofotheoActowhicho sayso thato theo provisionso ofo theo Acto shallo haveo effecto notwithstandingo anythingo inconsistento thereino containedo ino anyoenactmentooroinoanyoinstrumentoorocontractohavingoeffecto GURPREET KAUR byovirtueoofoanyoenactmentootherothanothisoAct.oo

(e)oTheoprovisionsoofotheoActoprevailooveroallootheroenactmento oroinstrumentoorocontractosoofaroasotheopaymentoofogratuityoiso concerned.oTheorightotooreceiveogratuityounderotheoprovisionso ofotheoActocannotobeodefeatedobyoanyoinstrumentoorocontract.o

(f)oInoHindustanoLeveroandoAnr.ov.oStateoofoMaharashtrao&o Anr.,o (2004)9o SCCo 438o relyingo upono theo decisiono ino PurshottamoH.oJudyeov.oV.B.oPoddar,o(1966)2oSCRo353,oito waso heldo thato theo wordo 'instrument'o wouldo includeo awardo madeobyotheoIndustrialoTribunal.o

(g)oSectiono2(d)oofotheoActodefinesoControllingoAuthorityoaso anoauthorityoappointedobyotheoappropriateoGovernmentoundero Sectiono 3o ofo theo Act.o Undero Sectiono 3o theo Controllingo Authorityoisomadeoresponsibleoforotheoadministrationoofotheo Acto ando ito furthero provideso foro appointmento ofo differento authoritieso foro differento areas.o Sectiono 7o dealso witho foro determinationoofotheoamountoofogratuity.oEveryopersonowhooiso eligibleoforopaymentoofogratuityounderotheoActoisorequiredotoo sendoaowrittenoapplicationotootheoemployeroinotheoprescribedo formoforopaymentoofosuchogratuity.oSub-sectiono(2)oofoSectiono 7oprovidesoonceotheogratuityobecomesopayable,otheoemployero shall,o whethero ano applicationo haso beeno madeo oro not,o determineotheoamountoofogratuityoandogiveonoticeoinowritingo tootheopersonotoowhomotheogratuityoisopayableoandoalsootootheo ControllingoAuthorityospecifyingotheoamountoofogratuityosoo determinedoandoarrangeotoopayotheoamountoofogratuityotootheo persono too whomo theo gratuityo iso payable.o Theo Schemeo envisagedounderoSectiono7oofotheoAct,oisothatoinocaseoofoanyo disputeo too theo amounto ofo gratuityo payableo too ano employeeo underotheoActooroasotootheoadmissibilityoofoanyoclaimoof,ooroino relationo to,o ano employeeo payableo too gratuityo etc.o theo employero iso requiredo too deposito witho theo Controllingo Authorityotheoadmittedoamountopayableoasogratuity.oInocaseoofo anyo disputeo partieso mayo makeo ano applicationo too theo ControllingoAuthorityoforodecidingotheodisputeowhooafterodueo inquiryo ando aftero givingo theo partieso too theo dispute,o ao reasonableoopportunityoofobeingoheard,odetermineotheomattero oromattersoinodisputeoandoif,oasoresultoofosuchoinquiryoanyo amounto iso foundo too beo payableo too theo employee,o theo ControllingoAuthorityoshallodirectotheoemployerotoopayosucho amounto too theo employee.o Sub-sectiono (7)o ofo Sectiono 7,o providesoforoanoappealoagainstotheoorderoofotheoControllingo Authority.oTheoAct,onowhereoconfersoanyojurisdictionoupono theoControllingoAuthorityotoodealowithoanyoissueounderosub-sectiono(5)oofoSectiono4oasotoowhetherotheotermsoofogratuityo payableounderoanyoAwardooroagreementoorocontractoisomoreo beneficialotooemployeesothanotheooneoprovidedoforopaymentoofo gratuityo undero theo Act.o Thiso Court'so ordero couldonotohaveo conferredo anyo sucho jurisdictiono upono theo Controllingo Authorityo too decideo anyo mattero undero sub-sectiono (5)o ofo Sectiono4,osinceotheoParliamentoinoitsowisdomohadochosenotoo confero sucho jurisdictiono onlyo upono theo appropriateo Governmentoandothatotoooforotheopurposesoofoconsideringotoo grantoexemptionofromotheooperationoofotheoprovisionsoofotheo Act."o

10.o o Inoviewoofotheoabove,othereoisonoodisputeothatotheoprovisionsoofo theo 1972o Act,o haveo ano overridingo effect.o Further,o ito iso alsoo noto disputedo beforeothisoCourtothatotheoprovisionsoofotheo1972oAct,oareoapplicableotootheo petitioneroestablishment.oTherefore,otheoprovisionsoofotheo1972oActowouldobeo applicableotootheocaseooforespondentoNo.3,oherein.oo

11.o o Asoregardsotheocontentionoofolearnedocounseloforotheopetitionero thatotheoControllingoAuthorityohadonotoaffordedoanyoopportunityoofohearingotoo theopetitioner,oitoisoobservedothatouponotheoreceiptoofoapplicationosubmittedobyo respondentoNo.3obeforeotheoControllingoAuthority,oaonoticeowasoissuedotootheo petitioner-hospital;o whereupon,o Dr.o Vijayo Kumaro Bahri,o hado appearedo ono behalfoofotheopetitioner-hospital;ohowever,osubsequently,onoooneoonobehalfoofo theopetitioneroappearedobeforeotheoControllingoAuthorityoonovariousodatesooooooooooooo i.e.o 28.07.2021,o 04.08.2021,o 18.08.2021,o 08.09.2021o ando 15.09.2021.o Ito appearsothatoono15.09.2021,oevenoaofineoofoRs.500/-owasoimposedouponotheo petitionero herein;o however,o theyo failedo too appearo ando ultimately,o theo petitionerowasoproceededoagainstoex-parteoono06.10.2021oandotheomatterowaso listedoforoex-parteoevidenceooforespondentoNo.3,oherein.o

12.o o Here,oitowouldobeogainfulotooreferotooRuleo11(5)oofotheoPaymento ofoGratuityo(Punjab)oRules,o1973,owhichoreadsoasoundero:-o "11.oProcedureoofodealingowithoapplicationoforodirectiono:-o

(5)oIfotheoemployeroconcernedofailsotooappearoonotheo specifiedodateoofohearingoafterodueoserviceoofonoticeo withouto sufficiento cause,o theo Controllingo Authorityo mayoproceedotoohearoandodetermineotheoapplicationo ex-parte.o Ifo theo applicanto failso too appearo ono theo specifiedodateoofohearingowithoutosufficientocause,otheo controllingoauthorityomayodismissotheoapplication;o o o Providedothatoanoorderounderothisosub-ruleo mayoonogoodocauseobeingoshownowithinothirtyodaysoofo theosaido ordero beo reviewedo ando theo applicationo re-heardoafterogivingonotolessothanofourteenodaysonoticeo tootheooppositeopartyoofotheodateofixedoforore-hearingo ofotheoapplication."o o o AoperusaloofotheoaboveoextractedoRulesowouldomanifestothatotheo ControllingoAuthorityowasowellowithinoitsojurisdictionotooproceedowithotheo decisionoofotheocaseoonceotheopetitioner-hospitalohadofailedotooappearobeforeoito andowasoproceededoagainstoex-parte.oStillofurther,oitoappearsothatonooeffortso wereomadeobyotheopetitioner-hospitalotoogetotheoex-parteoproceedingsoagainsto it,o seto aside.o Apparently,o theo proceedingso pendingo beforeo theo Controllingo Authorityowereowellowithinotheoknowledgeoofotheopetitioner-hospital.oo o o Inothisoviewoofotheomatter,oitocannotobeoagitatedobyotheopetitionero thato noo opportunityo ofo hearingo waso affordedo too themo byo theo Controllingo

13.o o AsoregardsotheootherosubmissionothatotheoControllingoAuthorityo hasonotoconductedoproperoenquiryoandothereowasonoomaterialoonorecordotoo showothatorespondentoNo.3ohasorenderedoqualifyingoserviceoand/oro20oyearso ofocontinuousoserviceobeforeosheotenderedoheroresignation;osufficeoitotoosayo thato respondento No.3,o ino supporto ofo hero claimo beforeo theo Controllingo Authority,o hado tenderedo documentso includingo ano Experienceo Certificateo datedo 10.08.2013o (Annexureo P-13),o issuedo byo petitioner-hospitalo itself,o whichoreadsoasoundero:-o oo oo"EXPERIENCEoCERTIFICATEo o oo o Toowhomoitomayoconcerno o oo ThisoisotoocertifyothatoMissoSantoshoKumarioD/oo Sh.o Amaro singh,o V.P.O.o Bhatoya,o Teh.o &o Distt.o Gurdaspuro haso beeno workingo aso ao Mido Wife/Wardo Attendanto ino thiso Hospitalo sinceo April,o 1999o too tillo date.oHeroworko&oconductoisoveryosatisfactory.o oo Iowishoherosuccessoinolife.o o o o o o o o o o Dr.oVijayoBahrio o o o o o o o o o M.S"o

14.o o Fromo ao perusalo ofo theo afore-saido Experienceo Certificateo (AnnexureoP-13),oissuedobyotheopetitioner-hospitaloitself,oitoisoapparentothato respondentoNo.3ohadojoinedotheohospitaloasoMid-wife/WardoAttendantosinceo Aprilo 1999.o Further,o ao perusalo ofo theo `Groundso ofo Appeal'o filedo byo theo petitioner-hospitalounderoSectiono7(7)oofotheo1972oActoagainstotheoorderodatedo

16.03.2022opassedobyotheoControllingoAuthority,otheopetitionerohadomadeotheo followingoavermentsoinoparaoNo.5oofoitso`GroundoofoAppeal'o(AnnexureoP-8),o whichoreadsoasoundero:-o o o "5.o Thato despiteo this,o theo managemento ofo theo appellantohospitalostillodirectedoherotoorejoinoheroduties,o copyoofotheocommunicationoisoattachedoasoAnnexureoA-4.o However,oinsteadooforejoiningoheroduties,orespondentono.2o submittedo hero resignationo video communicationo datedo

18.11.2019,ocopyoofowhichoisoattachedoasoAnnexureoA-5."o o o Aoperusaloofotheoaboveoextractedoparaowouldofurtheroindicateo thato respondento No.3o hado submittedo hero resignationo video communicationo datedo18.11.2019,owhichowasoalsoowithinotheoknowledgeoofotheopetitioner-hospital.oTherefore,oitohadocomeoonorecordothatorespondentoNo.3ohadorenderedo serviceofromoApril,o1999ouptoo18.11.2019oi.e.omoreothano20oyears.oFurtheroaso pero Sectiono 4o ofo theo 1972o Act,o ito iso providedo thato subjecto too provisionso containedotherein,oanyoperson,owhoohasorenderedocontinuousoserviceoforofiveo years,o iso entitledo too theo gratuityo amount.o Consequently,o thereo cano beo noo disputeothatorespondentoNo.3ohadorenderedoserviceoforomoreothanofiveoyearso fromoApril,o1999oonwardsouptoo18.11.2019oi.e.otheodateowhenosheotenderedo heroresignation.oTherefore,orespondentoNo.3owasoentitledotooclaimogratuityo amount,owhichohasobeenorightlyoallowedobyotheoauthoritiesobelow.o

15.o o AsoregardsotheopleaoofotheopetitionerothatorespondentoNo.3ohado alreadyoinvokedotheojurisdictionoofotheoLabouroCourtobyofilingoanoapplicationo underoSectiono33(C)(2)oofotheoIndustrialoDisputesoAct,o1947oandotherefore,o sheocouldonotohaveofiledoanoapplicationounderotheo1972oActotooclaimogratuity;oo IodoonotofindoanyomeritoinotheosaidosubmissionoasotheoIndustrialoTribunalohaso noojurisdictionotoodecideotheoissueoregardingopaymentoofogratuity,oasoitoisoonlyo theoControllingoAuthorityounderotheo1972oAct,owhoohasotheojurisdictionotoo decideotheoclaimoforopaymentoofogratuity,oasoregardsoanyoestablishmentotoo whichotheoActoapplies.o

16.o o Inoviewoofotheoabove,othereoisonooscopeoforoanyointerferenceoino theoimpugnedoordersopassedobyotheoauthoritiesobelow,owhichomayocalloforoanyo interferenceobyoothisoCourt.oResultantly,otheooinstantowritopetitionofailsoandotheoo o

 

 .
 
)



    $

.

 
 



August 23, 2023

(HARSH BUNGER) gurpreet

JUDGE