Avtar Singh v. Presiding Officer and Ors

INoTHEoHIGHoCOURToOFoPUNJABoANDoHARYANAoATo CHANDIGARHo oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooCWP-6965-2015o(O&M)ooo DateoofoDecision:o12.10.2023o o AVTARoSINGHo o o o o o o o o o …Petitionero o Versuso PRESIDINGoOFFICER,oCENTRALoGOVT.oINDUSTRIALo TRIBUNAL-CUM-LABOURoCOURT-1,oCHANDIGARHoo ANDoOTHERSo o o o o o o o o oooooooooo…Respondentso o CORAM:oo HON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoHARSHoBUNGERo Presento:o Mr.oAshwanioBakshi,oAdvocateo o o forotheopetitioner.o o o o o Mr.oAniloRathee,oAdvocateo o o fororespondentsoNo.2otoo4.o o HARSHoBUNGER,oJ.ooo

1.o o Petitionero(AvtaroSingh)ohasofiledotheoinstantowritopetitionoundero Articleo 226o ofo theo Constitutiono ofo India,o seekingo issuanceo ofo ao writo inooooooooooooooooo theo natureo ofo certiorario foro quashingo theo Awardo datedo 26.09.2013oooooooooooooooo (Annexureo P-10)o passedo byo respondento No.1-Presidingo Officer,o Centralo GovernmentoIndustrialoTribunal-cum-LabouroCourt-Io(foroshorto`theoCGIT'),o ChandigarhoinoReferenceoNo.L-40012/516/2001/IR(DU)odatedo31.01.2001,o wherebyo theo referenceo ofo industrialo disputeo haso beeno decidedo againsto theo petitioner.o o o

2.o o Briefly,otheopetitioneroraisedoanoindustrialodispute,owhichowaso referredoforoadjudicationotootheoCGIT,oChandigarh.oTheosaidoreferenceocameo toobeodecidedovideoAwardodatedo06.10.2010o(AnnexureoP-8)oinofavouroofotheo workman;ohowever,otheosameowasochallengedobeforeothisoCourtobyowayoofo filingo CWP-8664-2011o byo theo respondent-Managemento herein.o Theoooooooooooooooo afore-saidowritopetitiono(CWP-8664-2011)ocameotoobeodecidedobyothisoCourto videoorderodatedo23.05.2013oandotheomatterowasoremandedoforofreshodecision.o Accordingly,ouponoremand,otheomatterowasotakenoupobyotheolearnedoTribunalo below.o

3.o o Inotheoclaimopetitionofiledobyotheopetitioner,oitowasostatedothatoheo waso appointedo aso ao Watermano ono 01.04.1992o undero theo Chiefo Generalo Managero Telecom,o Punjabo Telecomo Circle,o Chandigarh;o however,o hiso servicesowereoterminatedoono27.02.1999owithoutoanyonoticeoandowithoutoanyo compensation,oinoviolationoofoSectiono25-FoofotheoIndustrialoDisputesoAct.o Petitioneroclaimedothatoheohadoalreadyocompletedo240odays.oHeofurtheroclaimso thatothoughohisoappointmentowasoshownotoobeomadeothroughoaoContractor,o whicho waso ao shamo transactiono ando heo waso workingo directlyo undero theo supervisionoandocontroloofotheodepartmentoandotheoworkoonowhich,oheowaso engaged,o waso ofo perennialo nature.o Petitionero claimedo thato hiso caseo waso squarelyocoveredobyotheojudgmentorenderedobyotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourto inotheocaseoofoAiroIndiaoStatutoryoCorporationovsoUnitedoLabouroUnionoando otherso1997(9)oSCCo377.oItowasoalsooclaimedobyotheopetitionerothatoafterotheo terminationo ofo hiso services,o newo appointmentso haveo beeno madeo withouto offeringohimoanyoopportunityoforofurtheroemploymentoandothus;oitowasotheo violationo ofo Sectiono 25-Ho ofo theo Industrialo Disputeso Act,o aso well.o Accordingly,otheopetitionerosoughtore-instatementowithocontinuityoofoserviceo alongowithofullobackowages.o

4.o o Theo afore-saido claimo ofo theo petitionero waso contestedo byo theo respondent-Management/department;owherein,oanoobjectionowasoraisedothato theo departmento waso noto ano industryo ando waso noto governedo undero theo IndustrialoDisputesoActoandoalsoothatotheoDepartmentoofoTelecomoServiceso wasonoolongeroinoexistenceoasoaoPublicoSectoroUndertaking,oknownoaso`Bharato SancharoNigamoLimited'o(BSNL)owasoconstitutedow.e.f.o01.10.2000oandoaso such,otheoclaimopetitionowasonotomaintainable.oItowasotheocategoricopleaoofotheo respondent-departmentothatotheopetitionerowasoneitheroengagedonororecruitedo byo theo management/Departmento ando heo waso alsoo noto ao Membero ofo theo service.oItowasostatedothatonooappointmentoletterowasoissuedonorotheoserviceso ofotheopetitionerowereoterminatedobyotheomanagement/Departmentoandoeveno noo paymento waso madeo too theo petitionero byo theo respondent-Management/Department.o Ito waso pleadedo byo theo management/Departmento thatoitohadoenteredointooaocontractowithoaocontractoroforosupplyoofolabour/mano poweroforotheoperformanceoofoemergencyoworkoinotheodepartmentoandothato theyowereonotoawareoaboutotheopetitioneroasotoowhetheroheowasosuppliedotootheo departmentobyotheocontractor.oItowasospecificallyostatedobyotheodepartmento thatotheopetitionerohereinohasonotoproducedoanyorecord/letterotooproveothatoheo wasoappointedobyotheorespondent-department;othus,otheorelationshipoofotheo employeeo ando employero betweeno theo petitionero ando theo respondent-departmento waso disputed.o Ito waso alsoo disputedo thato theo petitionero hado completedo240odaysowithotheodepartmentoofoTelecommunications.oItowasoalsoo deniedobyotheorespondent-departmentothatoanyonewoappointmentohasobeeno made;oaccordingly,oprayeroforodismissaloofotheoclaimopetitionowasomade.oo

5.o o Theo petitionero herein,o haso filedo hiso rejoindero too theo replyo submittedo byo theo respondent-departmento whereino theo caseo pleadedo ino theo claimopetitionowasoreiterated.o

6.o o Afteroconsideringotheocaseoofotheorespectiveopartiesoandoalsootheo evidence/materialoavailableoonotheorecord,otheolearnedoTribunalobelowovideo impugnedoAwardodatedo26.09.2013o(AnnexureoP-10)oansweredotheoreferenceo againstotheopetitioner-workmanobyooholdingothatotheoworkmanohadofailedotoo establishorelationshipoofoemployeeoandoemployerobetweenotheopetitioneroando theorespondent-department.oo

7.o o Inotheoafore-mentionedocircumstances,otheoinstantowritopetitiono hasobeenofiledobeforeothisoCourt.o

8.o o Learnedo counselo foro theo petitionero submitso thato theo learnedo TribunalobelowohasoerredoinopassingotheoimpugnedoAward.oItoisosubmittedo thatotheolearnedoTribunalobelowohasofailedotooconsideroandoappreciateotheo evidenceoavailableoonotheorecordoandohasowronglyoheldothatotheopetitionerohaso failedotooproveotheorelationshipoofoemployeeoandoemployerobetweenohimoando theomanagement/Department.oItoisosubmittedothatothereowasoenoughoevidenceo ono theo recordo too proveo thato theo petitioner-workmano waso workingo foro theo respondent-departmentounderotheocontroloandosupervisionoofoitsoofficersoando paymentoofoitsowagesowasoalsoomadeotoohimobyotheodepartmentoofficials.oItoiso submittedo thato theo allegedo agreemento propoundedo byo theo respondent-departmentoisoaomereocamouflageoandoevenootherwise,otheooriginaloofotheo contractowasonotoproducedoonotheorecord.oItoisosubmittedothatoevenoifotheopleao ofo theo managemento iso too beo acceptedo thato thereo waso ao contracto witho theo contractor,oevenothenothereoisonothingoonorecordotooshowothatotheodepartmento asowelloasotheocontractorowereoregisteredowithotheocompetentoauthority,oino termsoofotheoprovisionsocontainedoinotheoContractoLabouroRegulationoando Abolitiono Act,o 1970o (ino shorto `theo Act,o 1970').o Ito iso submittedo thato theo managementohadofailedotooproduceotheooriginalorecordoandoinotheoabsenceoofo theosame,otheopetitioner-workmanooughtotoohaveobeenoheldotoobeoanoemployeeo ofotheorespondent-department.oItois,oaccordingly,ocontendedothatotheoserviceso ofotheopetitionerohaveobeenoterminatedoinoviolationoofotheoprovisionsoofotheo IndustrialoDisputesoAct;ohence,otheoimpugnedoawardoisoliableotoobeosetoasideo andoanoappropriateodirectionobeoissuedoforodirectingore-instatementoofotheo petitionerowithocontinuityoofoserviceoandofullobackowages.o

9.o o Ono theo othero hand,o learnedo counselo foro theo respondent-management/Departmento haso opposedo theo submissionso madeo byo learnedo counselo foro theo petitionero ando haso submittedo thato theo onuso too proveo theo relationshipoofoemployeroandoemployeeoasowelloasotheoonusotooproveothatotheo petitionerohadoworkedoforo240odaysoinotheolasto12ocalenderomonthsoprecedingo theodateoofotheoallegedoterminationoisoonotheoworkman,oinotermsoofoSectiono 25-Bo ofo theo Industrialo Disputeso Act.o Ito iso submittedo thato theo petitioner-workmano hado failedo too dischargeo theo saido onuso ando aparto fromo hiso baldo statement,o thereo iso nothingo ono recordo too eveno indicateo thato heo waso evero employedo byo theo management/Department.o Learnedo counselo foro theo respondent-management/Departmentohasoreferredotootheocross-examinationo ofotheopetitionerotoocontendothatotheostatementoofotheopetitioneroinohisocross-examinationo haso completelyo demolishedo hiso owno caseo aso heo haso clearlyo admittedothatoheohasonoodocumentoinohisopossessionotooshowothatoheowaso appointedobyotheorespondent-department.oLearnedocounseloforotheorespondento furtherosubmitsothatoasoregardsotheopleaoofotheopetitionerothatotheodepartmento asowelloasotheocontractorowasonotoregisteredounderotheoAct,o1970,otheosameo hasonoorelevance,oespeciallyoinoviewoofotheofactothatotheoonusotooproveotheo relationshipobetweenotheopetitioneroandotheomanagement/Departmentowasoono theoworkman,owhichohasonotobeenodischarged.oItoisocontendedothatoevenoifotheo departmentoasowelloasotheocontractorowereonotoregisteredounderotheoAct,o1970,o evenothenoatobest,oonlyopenaloclausesocanobeoinvokedoagainstothemoandotheo sameowouldonotoentitleotheopetitionerotooclaimoautomaticoabsorptionoinotheo department.oItoisoalsoocontendedothatotheopetitionerohadofailedotoogiveotheo detailsoofoanyopersonoappointedobyowayoofonewoappointmentosooasotooclaimo thatothereoisoaoviolationoofotheoprovisionsoofoSectiono25-HoofotheoIndustrialo DisputesoAct.oAccordingly,oprayerohasobeenomadeoforodismissaloofotheoinstanto writopetition.o

10.o o Iohaveoheardolearnedocounseloforotheopartiesoandohaveoperusedo theopaperobookowithotheiroableoassistance.oo

11.o o Itoisowellosettledolawothatotheoonusotooproveotheorelationshipoofo employeeoandoemployerobetweenotheoworkmanoandotheoManagementoisoupono theo workmano byo adducingoevidenceo inotheo formo ofo appointmento letterooro recordoofotheoengagementoofoworkmanobyoManagementoforo240odaysooromoreo inoaoCalendaroyearoprecedingotheodateoofoterminationoorosuchoevidenceoinotheo formooforeceiptoofosalaryoforo240odaysoetc.oo

12.o o Comingo too theo caseo ino hand,o Io haveo goneo througho theooooooooooooooooo cross-examinationoofotheopetitioner,owhichoreadsoasoundero:-o oo "Iohaveonoodocumentsoinomyopossessionotooshowo appointmentomadeobyoanyoofficeroofotheodepartment.oIoamo alsoonotohavingoinomyopossessionocertificateooroanyoothero documentsotooshowomyoemploymentofromo1.4.92otoo27.2.99o withotheomanagement.oIohaveonooknowledgeoaboutoShrio R.K.oMittalocontractor.oItoisocorrectothatoIohaveomentionedo inoparao11oofomyoaffidavitoaboutotheonameoofoSh.oR.K.o Mittalocontractoroasothatoheohasonoolicence.oIohaveonoto broughtoanyodocumentsotooshowomyoperformanceoofotheo dutyoasomentionedoinoparaothreeoofomyoaffidavit.oIoamoalsoo notohavingomyopossessionoanyodocumentsotooshowothatotheo wageso wereo paido too meo directlyo byo anyo officer.o Io waso workingo aso ao Labouro (helper)o buto Io cannoto worko foro installationoofotelephoneoexchangeoorodismantlingoofolocalo GURPREET KAUR trunkoboardooroanyoequipments.oIodoonotohaveoanyodutyo charto too supporto myo avermentso madeo ino parao 5o ofo myo affidavit.oNooterminationoletterowasogiven.oIoamoalsoonotoao possessionoofoseniorityolistoofoLabouroengagedosooIocannoto tello whoo waso theo junioro ando whoo waso senioro ino theiro employment.o Io amo presentlyo workingo ando earningo Rs.2500/-o PM.o Io waso paido theo wageso Rs.2500/-o ino theo year.o Io cannoto giveo theo nameo ofo junioro retainedo oro regularized.o Ito iso wrongo thato Io waso appointedo througho contractoroorothatoheowasoengagedolabourolikeousounderoao contract.oItoisowrongothatoIoamodeposingofalsely."o

13.o o Aoperusaloofotheoafore-saidocross-examinationoofotheopetitionero wouldomanifestothatoheohadoclearlyoadmittedothatoheohadonoodocumentoinohiso possessionotooshowothatoheowasoappointedobyotheodepartment.oHeofurthero admittedothatoheohadonoodocumentotooshowohisoemploymentofromo01.04.1992o too 27.02.1999o witho theo management/Department.o Petitionero haso furthero admittedothatoheohasonotobroughtoanyodocumentotooshowohisoperformanceoofo duties,oasoclaimedobyohimoandoneither,odidoheopossessoanyodocumentotooshowo thatotheowagesowereopaidotoohimodirectlyobyoanyoofficer.oPetitionerofurtherodido notoproduceoanyodutyochartotoosupportohisopleadedostand.oItowasoalsooadmittedo byotheopetitionerothatonooterminationoletterowasogivenotoohim.oTheopetitionero furtherofailedotooproduceoanyoseniorityolistoofotheolaboursoengagedonoroheo couldogiveotheonamesoofoanyojunior(s)oretainedoororegularized.oo

14.o o Onceotheopetitionerohasonotoprovedoonotheorecordothatoheowaso employedobyotheodepartmentooroheowasopaidowagesobyotheodepartmentooroanyo otherodocumentotooshowohisoemploymentowithotheodepartment,oitocannotobeo heldothatothereowasoaorelationshipoofoemployeeoandoemployerobetweenotheo petitioneroandotheomanagement/Department.oItoisowellosettledopositionoofolawo thatomereoaffidavitooroself-servingostatementomadeobyotheoclaimant/workmano GURPREET KAUR willonotosufficeoinotheomatteroofodischargeoofotheoburdenoplacedobyolawoonotheo workmanotooproveothatoheohadoworkedoforo240odaysoinoaogivenoyearoorothereo isoaorelationshipoofoemployeeoandoemployerobetweenotheoworkmenoandotheo Management.oInothisoregard,oreferenceocanobeomadeotootheojudgmentorenderedo byoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoofoIndiaoinotheocaseoofoMunicipaloCorpn.ov.oSirio Niwas,o2004(4)oS.C.T.o211,owherein,otheoHon'bleoApexoCourtoheldoasounder:o "12.oTheoprovisionsoofotheoIndianoEvidenceoActoperoseoareo notoapplicableoinoanoindustrialoadjudication.oTheogeneralo principleso ofo ito are,o however,o applicable.o Ito iso alsoo imperativeo foro theo Industrialo Tribunalo too seeo thato theo principleso ofo naturalo justiceo areo compliedo with.o Theo burdenoofoproofowasoonotheorespondentohereinotooshowo thato heo hado workedo foro 240o dayso ino precedingo twelveo monthso prioro too hiso allegedo retrenchment.o Ino termso ofo Sectiono 25Fo ofo theo Industrialo Disputeso Act,o 1947,o ano ordero retrenchingo ao workmano wouldo noto beo effectiveo unlesso theo conditionso precedento thereforo areo satisfied.o Sectiono 25-Fo postulateso theo followingo conditionso too beo fulfilledobyoemployeroforoeffectingoaovalidoretrenchmento:o

(i)o oneo month'so noticeo ino writingo indicatingo theo reasonsofororetrenchmentoorowagesoinolieuothereofo:o

(ii)opaymentoofocompensationoequivalentotoofifteeno dayso averageo payo foro everyo completedo yearo ofo continuousoserviceooroanyopartothereofoinoexcessoofo sixomonths.o

13.o Foro theo saido purposeo ito iso necessaryo too noticeo theo definitionoofo'ContinuousoService'oasocontainedoinoSectiono 25-BoofotheoAct.oInotermsoofosub-sectiono(2)oofoSectiono25-Bothatoifoaoworkmanoduringoaoperiodoofotwelveocalendaro monthso precedingo theo dateo witho referenceo too whicho calculationoisotoobeomade,ohasoactuallyoworkedounderotheo employero240odaysowithinoaoperiodoofooneoyear,oheowillobeo deemedotoobeoinocontinuousoservice.oByoreasonoofotheosaido provision,o thus,o ao legalo fictiono iso created.o Theo retrenchmentoofotheorespondentotookoplaceoono17.5.1995.o Foro theo purposeo ofo calculatingo aso too whethero heo hado workedoforoaoperiodoofo240odaysowithinooneoyearooronot,oito was,otherefore,onecessaryoforotheoTribunalotooarriveoatoao findingoofofactothatoduringotheoperiodobetweeno5.8.1994otoo

16.5.1995oheohadoworkedoforoaoperiodoofomoreothano240o days.oAsonoticedohereinbefore,otheoburdenoofoproofowaso onotheoworkman.oFromotheoAwardoitodoesonotoappearothato theo workmano adducedo anyo evidenceo whatsoevero ino supporto ofo hiso contentiono thato heo compliedo witho theo requirementsoofoSectiono25BoofotheoIndustrialoDisputeso Act.o Aparto fromo examiningo himselfo ino supporto ofo hiso contentionoheodidonotoproduceoorocalloforoanyodocumento fromo theo officeo ofo theo Appellanto hereino includingo theo musterorolls.oItoisoimprobableothatoaopersonoworkingoinoao Localo Authorityo wouldo noto beo ino possessiono ofo anyo documentaryo evidenceo too supporto hiso claimo beforeo theo Tribunal.oApartofromomusterorollsoheocouldohaveoshowno theotermsoandoconditionsoofohisoofferoofoappointmentoando theoremunerationoreceivedobyohimoforoworkingoduringotheo aforementionedo period.o Heo eveno dido noto examineo anyo otherowitnessoinosupportoofohisocase.oo

14.oAoCourtoofoLawoevenoinoaocaseowhereoprovisionsoofo theoIndianoEvidenceoActoapply,omayopresumeooromayonoto presumeo thato ifo ao partyo despiteo possessiono ofo theo besto evidenceohadonotoproducedotheosame,oitowouldohaveogoneo againstohisocontentions.oTheomatter,ohowever,owouldobeo differentowhereodespiteodirectionobyoaocourtotheoevidenceo isowithheld.oPresumptionoasotooadverseoinferenceoforonon-productionoofoevidenceoisoalwaysooptionaloandooneoofotheo factorsowhichoisorequiredotoobeotakenointooconsiderationo ino theo backgroundo ofo factso involvedo ino theo lis.o Theo presumption,o thus,o iso noto obligatoryo becauseo notwithstandingo theo intentionalo non-production,o othero circumstanceso mayo existo upono whicho sucho intentionalo non-productionomayobeofoundotoobeojustifiableoonosomeo reasonableo grounds.o Ino theo instanto case,o theo Industrialo Tribunalodidonotodrawoanyoadverseoinferenceoagainstotheo Appellant.o Ito waso withino itso jurisdictiono too doo soo particularlyohavingoregardotootheonatureoofotheoevidenceo adducedobyotheoRespondent.oo

15.oNooreasonohasobeenoassignedobyotheoHighoCourtoasotoo whyo theo exerciseo ofo discretionalo jurisdictiono ofo theo Tribunalowasobadoinolaw.oInoaocaseoofothisonature,oitoiso trite,o theo Higho Courto exercisingo theo powero ofo judicialo review,o wouldo noto interfereo witho theo discretiono ofo ao Tribunalo unlesso theo sameo iso foundo too beo illegalo oro irrational…"o

15.o o Further,oinotheocaseoofoSurendranagaroDistrictoPanchayatov.o Dahyabhaio Amarsinh,o 2005(8)o SCCo 750,o Hon'bleo Apexo Courto heldo aso under:o "19.oInotheolightoofotheoaforesaid,oitowasonecessaryoforotheo workmanotooproduceotheorelevantomaterialotooproveothato heohaso actuallyo workedo withotheo employeroforonoto lesso thano240odaysoduringotheoperiodotwelveocalendaromonthso precedingotheodateoofotermination.oWhatoweofindoisothato aparto fromo theo oralo evidenceo theo workmano haso noto producedo anyo evidenceo too proveo theo facto thato heo haso workedoforo240odays.oNooproofooforeceiptoofosalaryooro wageso oro anyo recordo oro ordero ino thato regardo waso produced;o noo co-workero waso examined;o mustero rollo producedobyotheoemployerohasonotobeenocontradicted.oItoiso improbableothatoworkmanowhooclaimedotoohaveoworkedo witho theo appellanto foro sucho ao longo periodo wouldo noto possessoanyodocumentaryoevidenceotooproveonatureoofohiso engagementoandotheoperiodoofoworkoheohadoundertakeno withohisoemployer.oTherefore,oweoareoofotheoopinionothato theoworkmanohasofailedotoodischargeohisoburdenothatoheo wasoinoemploymentoforo240odaysoduringotheoprecedingo12o monthso ofo theo dateo ofo terminationo ofo hiso service.o Theo Courtsobelowohaveowronglyodrawnoanoadverseoinferenceo forononoproductionoofotheorecordoofotheoworkmanoforoteno years.oTheoscopeoofoenquiryobeforeotheoLabouroCourtowaso confinedo too onlyo 12o monthso precedingo theo dateo ofo terminationo too decideo theo questiono ofo continuationo ofo serviceoforotheopurposeoofoSectiono25FoofotheoIndustrialo DisputesoAct.oTheoworkmanohasoneverocontendedothatoheo wasoregularlyoemployedoinotheoPanchayatoforooneoyearotoo claimo theo uninterruptedo periodo ofo serviceo aso requiredo underoSectiono25B(1)oofotheoAct.oInotheofactoandosituationo andoinotheolightoofotheolawoonotheosubject,oweofindothatotheo workman-respondentoisonotoentitledoforotheoprotectionooro complianceoofoSectiono25FoofotheoActobeforeohisoserviceo waso terminatedo byo theo employer.o Aso regardso non-complianceoofoSectionso25Goando25Hosufficeoisotoosayothato witnesso Vinodo Mishrao examinedo byo theo appellanto haso statedo thato noo seniorityo listo waso maintainedo byo theo departmento ofo dailyowagers.o Inotheo absenceooforegularo employmento ofo theo workman,o theo appellanto waso noto expectedo too maintaino seniorityo listo ofo theo employeeso engagedoonodailyowagesoandoinotheoabsenceoofoanyoproofo byotheorespondentoregardingoexistenceoofotheoseniorityolisto andohisosoocalledoseniorityonooreliefocouldobeogivenotoohimo foronon-complianceoofoprovisionsoofotheoAct.oTheoCourtso couldo haveo drawno adverseo inferenceo againsto theo appellantoonlyowhenoseniorityolistowasoprovedotoobeoino existenceo ando theno noto producedo beforeo theo Court.o Ino orderotooentitleotheoCourtotoodrawoinferenceounfavourableo tootheoparty,otheoCourtomustobeosatisfiedothatoevidenceoiso inoexistenceoandocouldohaveobeenoproved…"o

16.o o Aso regardso theo contentiono regardingo non-registrationo ofo theo contractorooasoowellooasootheoodepartmentounderotheoAct,o1970oisoconcerned,otheo saidoissueoisonoomoreoresointegraoasotheopositionostandsosettledobyotheoHon'bleo SupremeoCourtobyoauthoritativeojudgmentoinotheocaseoofo"SteeloAuthorityoofo Indiao Ltd.o v.o Nationalo Uniono Watero Fronto Workers",o 2001(4)o SCTo 1,o whereinotheofollowingofindingsowereoreturned:o-oo "124.oTheoupshotoofotheoaboveodiscussionoisooutlinedothuso:o

(1)o(a)oBeforeoJanuaryo28,o1986,otheodeterminationoofotheo questiono whethero Centralo Governmento oro theo Stateo GovernmentoisotheoappropriateoGovernmentoinorelationotoo anoestablishment,owillodepend,oinoviewoofotheodefinitionoofo theoexpressiono"appropriateoGovernment"oasostoodoinotheo CLRAo Act,o ono theo answero too ao furthero question,o iso theo industryounderoconsiderationocarriedoonobyoorounderotheo authorityoofotheoCentraloGovernmentoorodoesoitopertainotoo anyospecifiedocontrolledoindustry;oorotheoestablishmentoofo anyorailway,ocantonmentoboard,omajoroport,omineoorooilo fieldo oro theo establishmento ofo bankingo oro insuranceo companyo?oIfotheoansweroisoinotheoaffirmative,otheoCentralo Governmento willo beo theo appropriateo Government;o otherwiseo iso relationo too anyo othero establishmento theo GovernmentoofotheoStateoinowhichotheoestablishmentowaso situated,owouldobeotheoappropriateoGovernment.o

(b)oAfterotheosaidodateoinoviewoofotheonewodefinitionoofothato expression,otheoanswerotootheoquestionoreferredotooabove,o hasotoobeofoundoinoclauseo(a)oofoSectiono2ooofotheoIndustrialo Disputeso Act,o ifo (i)o theo concernedo Centralo Governmento company/undertakingo oro anyo undertakingo iso includedo thereinoeoonomine,ooro(ii)oanyoindustryoisocarriedoono(a)obyo orounderotheoauthorityoofotheoCentraloGovernment,ooro(b)o byo railwayo company;o oro (c)o byo specifiedo controlledo industry,o theno theo Centralo Governmento willo beo theo appropriateo Governmento otherwiseo ino relationo too anyo otheroestablishment,otheoGovernmentoofotheoStateoinowhicho thato othero establishmento iso situated,o willo beo theo

(2)o(a)oAonotificationounderoSectiono10(1)oofotheoCLRAoActo prohibitingoemploymentoofocontractolabouroinoanyoprocess,o operationoorootheroworkoinotheoanyoestablishmentohasotoobeo issuedobyotheoappropriateoGovernmento:o

(1)oafteroconsultingowithotheoCentraloAdvisoryoBoardooro theoStateoAdvisoryoBoard,oasotheocaseomayobe,oand;o

(2)ohavingoregardotooo

(i)o conditionso ofo worko ando benefitso providedo foro theo contractolabouroinotheoestablishmentoinoquestion;oando

(ii)o othero relevanto factorso includingo thoseo mentionedo ino sub-sectiono(2)oofoSectiono10;o

(b)oinasmuchoasotheoimpugnedonotificationoissuedobyotheo Centralo Governmento ono Decembero 9,o 1976o doeso noto satisfyo theo aforesaido requirementso ofo Sectiono 10o ito iso quashedobutoweodoosooprospectivelyoi.e.ofromotheodateoofo thisojudgmentoandosubjectotootheoclarificationothatoonotheo basisoofothisojudgmentonooorderopassedooronooactionotakeno givingoeffectotootheosaidonotificationoonoorobeforeotheodateo ofo thiso judgment,o shallo beo calledo ino questiono ino anyo tribunalo oro courto includingo ao Higho Courto ifo ito haso otherwiseo attainedo finalityo and/oro ito haso beeno implemented.o

(3)oNeitheroSectiono10oofotheoCLRAoActonoroanyoothero provisionoinotheoAct,owhetheroexpresslyoorobyonecessaryo implication,o provideso foro automatico absorptiono ofo contractolabouroonoissuingoaonotificationobyoappropriateo Governmento undero sub-sectiono (1)o ofo Sectiono 10,o prohibitingo employmento ofo contracto labour,o ino anyo process,ooperationoorootheroworkoinoanyoestablishment.o Consequentlyotheoprincipaloemployerocannotobeorequiredo tooorderoabsorptionoofotheocontractolabouroworkingoinotheo concernedoestablishment.o

(4)oWeoover-ruleotheojudgmentoofothisocourtoinoAiroIndia'so caseo(supra)oprospectivelyoandodeclareothatoanyodirectiono issuedobyoanyoindustrialoadjudicator/anyocourtoincludingo HighoCourt,oforoabsorptionoofocontractolabourofollowingo theo judgmento ofo ino Airo India'so caseo (supra),o shallo holdo goodoandothatotheosameoshallonotobeosetoaside,oalteredooro modifiedoonotheobasisoofothisojudgmentoinocasesowhereosucho aodirectionohasobeenogivenoeffectotooandoitohasobecomeo final.o

(5)oOnoissuanceoofoprohibitiononotificationounderoSectiono 10(1)oofotheoCLRAoActoprohibitingoemploymentoofocontracto labouro oro otherwise,o ino ano industrialo disputeo broughto beforeoitobyoanyocontractolabouroinoregardotooconditionsoofo service,otheoindustrialoadjudicatorowillohaveotooconsidero theoquestionowhetherotheocontractorohasobeenointerposedo eitheroonotheogroundoofotheohavingoundertakenotooproduceo anyo giveno resulto foro theo establishmento oro foro supplyo ofo contracto labouro foro worko ofo theo establishmento undero ao genuineocontractooroisoaomereoruse/camouflageotooevadeo complianceo ofo variouso beneficialo legislationso soo aso too depriveo theo workerso ofo theo benefito thereunder.o Ifo theo contracto iso foundo too beo noto genuineo buto ao mereo camouflage,otheoso-calledocontractolabourowillohaveotoobeo treatedoasoemployeesoofotheoprincipaloemployerowhooshallo beo directedo too regulariseo theo serviceso ofo theo contracto labouro ino theo concernedo establishmento subjecto too theo conditionsoasomayobeospecifiedobyoitoforothatopurposeoinotheo lightoofoparao6ohereunder.o

(6)oIfotheocontractoisofoundotoobeogenuineoandoprohibitiono notificationo undero Sectiono 10(1)o ofo theo CLRAo Acto ino respectoofotheoconcernedoestablishmentohasobeenoissuedobyo theoappropriateoGovernment,oprohibitingoemploymentoofo contractolabouroinoanyoprocess,ooperationoorootheroworkoofo anyoestablishmentoandowhereoinosuchoprocess,ooperationoofo othero worko ofo theo establishmento theo principalo employero intendso too employo regularo workmeno heo shallo giveo preferenceotootheoerstwhileocontractolabour,oifootherwiseo foundosuitableoand,oifonecessary,obyorelaxingotheoconditiono aso too maximumo ageo appropriatelyo takingo intoo considerationotheoageoofotheoworkersoatotheotimeoofotheiro initialoemploymentobyotheocontractoroandoalsoorelaxingotheo conditiono aso too academico qualificationso othero thano technicaloqualifications.o

17.o o Stillofurther,otheoeffectoofonon-registrationoofocontractoroundero theoAct,o1970owasoconsideredobyoaoDivisionoBenchoofothisoCourtoinBalwindero Singhov.oPunjaboStateoElectricityoBoard,o2011(4)oS.C.T.o231,owhereinoitowaso observedoasounder:-o "6.o Theo absenceo ofo anyo registrationo ofo theo labouro contractoro undero theo provisionso ofo theo Act,o ino ouro consideredo view,o willo noto altero theo situation.o Theo sameo mayomakeotheolabourocontractoroliableoforopenaloandoothero actiono contemplatedo byo theo provisionso ofo theo Act.o Theo absenceoofoanyosuchoregistrationoofotheolabourocontractoro cannoto obliterateo theo engagemento ofo workmeno byo theo contractor;oneitherotheosaidofactocanoalterotheostatusoofotheo workmenotoooneooforegularoemployeesounderotheoprincipalo employer…"o

18.o o Furthermore,o theo o peripherieso o ofo thiso courto too exerciseo CertiorariojurisdictionostandsoauthoritativelyodelineatedoinoSyedoYakoobov.oK.o S.ooRadhakrishnan,ooAIRoo1964ooSupremeooCourtoo477,owhereinoHon'bleo SupremeoCourtoheldoasounder:oo "7.o Theoquestionoaboutotheolimitsoofotheojurisdictionoofo HighoCourtsoinoissuingoaowritoofocertiorariounderoArticleo 226ohasobeenofrequentlyoconsideredobyothisoCourtoando theo trueo legalo positiono ino thato behalfo iso noo longero ino doubt.oAowritoofocertiorariocanobeoissuedoforocorrectingo errorso ofo jurisdictiono committedo byo inferioro courtso oro tribunals:otheseoareocasesowhereoordersoareopassedobyo inferiorocourtsoorotribunalsowithoutojurisdiction,ooroisoino excesso ofo it,o oro aso ao resulto ofo failureo too exerciseo jurisdiction.o Ao writo cano similarlyo beo issuedo whereo ino exerciseo ofo jurisdictiono conferredo ono it,o theo Courto oro Tribunaloactsoillegallyooroinoproperly,oasoforoinstance,oito decidesoaoquestionowithoutogivingoanoopportunityotoobeo heard,otootheopartyoaffectedobyotheoorder,oorowhereotheo procedureo adoptedo ino dealingo witho theo disputeo iso opposedo too principleso ofo naturalo justice.o Thereo is,o however,onoodoubtothatotheojurisdictionotooissueoaowritoofo certiorario iso ao supervisoryo jurisdictiono ando theo Courto exercisingoitoisonotoentitledotooactoasoanoAppellateoCourt.o Thisolimitationonecessarilyomeansothatofindingsoofofacto reachedobyotheoinferioroCourtooroTribunaloasoresultoofo theo appreciationo ofo evidenceo cannoto beo reopenedo oro questionedoinowritoproceedings.oAnoerroroofolawowhichoiso apparentoonotheofaceoofotheorecordocanobeocorrectedobyoao writ,o buto noto ano erroro ofo fact,o howevero graveo ito mayo appearotoobe.oInoregardotoofindingoofofactorecordedobyotheo Tribunal,oaowritoofocertiorariocanobeoissuedoifoitoisoshowno thato ino recordingo theo saido finding,o theo Tribunalo hado erroneouslyo refusedo too admito admissibleo ando materialo evidence,o oro hado erroneouslyo admittedo inadmissibleo evidenceo whicho haso influencedo theo impugnedo finding.o Similarly,oifoaofindingoofofactoisobasedoononooevidence,o thatowouldobeoregardedoasoanoerroroofolawowhichocanobeo correctedobyoaowritoofocertiorari.oInodealingowithothiso categoryo ofo cases,o however,o weo musto alwayso bearo ino mindo thato ao findingo ofo facto recordedo byo theo Tribunalo cannoto beo challengedo ino proceedingso foro ao writo ofo certiorarioonotheogroundothatotheorelevantoandomaterialo evidenceoadducedobeforeotheoTribunalowasoinsufficiento oro inadequateo too sustaino theo impugnedo finding.o Theo adequacyoorosufficiencyoofoevidenceoledoonoaopointoando theoinferenceoofofactotoobeodrawnofromotheosaidofindingo areowithinotheoexclusiveojurisdictionoofotheoTribunal,oando theosaidopointsocannotobeoagitatedobeforeoaowritoCourt.oIto isowithinotheseolimitsothatotheojurisdictionoconferredoono theo Higho Courtso undero Articleo 226o too issueo ao writo ofo certiorariocanobeolegitimatelyoexercised.oo

8.o oItois,oofocourse,onotoeasyotoodefineooroadequatelyo describeowhatoanoerroroofolawoapparentoonotheofaceoofo theorecordomeans.oWhatocanobeocorrectedobyoaowritohaso toobeoanoerroroofolaw;oitomustobeosuchoanoerroroofolawoaso canobeoregardedoasooneowhichoisoapparentoonotheofaceoofo theo record.o Whereo ito iso manifesto oro clearo thato theo conclusiono ofo lawo recordedo byo ano inferioro Courto oro Tribunaloisobasedoonoanoobviousomisinterpretationoofotheo relevantostatutoryoprovision,oorosometimesoinoignoranceo ofoit,ooromayobe,oevenoinodisregardoofoit,ooroisoexpresslyo foundedoonoreasonsowhichoareowrongoinolaw,otheosaido conclusionocanobeocorrectedobyoaowritoofocertiorari.oIno allotheseocases,otheoimpugnedoconclusionoshouldobeosoo plainlyoinconsistentowithotheorelevantostatutoryoprovisiono thatonoodifficultyoisoexperiencedobyotheoHighoCourtoino holdingothatotheosaidoerroroofolawoisoapparentoonotheofaceo ofotheorecord.oItomayoalsoobeothatoinosomeocases,otheo impugnedoerroroofolawomayonotobeoobviousooropatentoono theofaceoofotheorecordoasosuchoandotheoCourtomayoneedo anoargumentotoodiscoverotheosaidoerror;obutothereocanobeo noo doubto thato whato cano beo correctedo byo ao writo ofo certiorarioisoanoerroroofolawoandotheosaidoerroromust,oono theowhole,obeoofosuchoaocharacteroasowouldosatisfyotheo testothatoitoisoanoerroroofolawoapparentoonotheofaceoofotheo record.oIfoaostatutoryoprovisionoisoreasonablyocapableoofo twoo constructionso ando oneo constructiono haso beeno adoptedobyotheoinferioroCourtooroTribunal,oitsoconclusiono mayonotonecessarilyooroalwaysobeoopenotoocorrectionobyo aowritoofocertiorari.oInoouroopinion,oitoneitheropossibleo norodesirableotooattemptoeitherotoodefineoorotoodescribeo adequatelyo allo caseso ofo errorso whicho cano beo appropriatelyo describedo aso errorso ofolawo apparentoono theo faceo ofo theo record.o Whethero oro noto ano impugnedo erroroisoanoerroroofolawoandoanoerroroofolawowhichoiso apparentoonotheofaceoofotheorecord,omustoalwaysodependo uponotheofactsoandocircumstancesoofoeachocaseoandoupono theo natureo ando scopeo ofo theo legalo provisiono whicho iso allegedotoohaveobeenomisconductedoorocontravened."o

19.o o Noootheropointohasobeenourged.o

20.o o Keepingooinoviewotheoabove,oIodoonotofindoanyoillegalityoinoawardo datedo26.09.2013o(AnnexureoP-10)opassedobyotheoCGIT,oChandigarh,owhicho mayo callo foro interferenceo byo thiso Courto whileo o exercisingo o itso o writoo jurisdiction,ootherefore,otheopresentowritopetition,obeingobereftoofoanyomerits,o isodismissed.o

21.o o Allopendingoapplication/s,oifoany,oshalloalsoostandoclosed.o o thOcobero12 ,o2023oo o o o o (HARSHoBUNGER)o gurpreeto o o o o o o o JUDGEo Whetherospeaking/reasoned:o o Yes/Noo Whetheroreportable:o o o Yes/No