Legal Document View

Unlock Advanced Research with PRISMAI

- Know your Kanoon - Doc Gen Hub - Counter Argument - Case Predict AI - Talk with IK Doc - ...
Upgrade to Premium
[Cites 10, Cited by 0]

Delhi District Court

Sh. Ajay Tiwari vs (1) M/S Excel Copygraphics Pvt. Ltd on 10 October, 2017

IN THE COURT OF SHRI UMED SINGH GREWAL, PILOT 
COURT / POLC­XVII ROOM NO. 22 :KKD COURTS: DELHI

LIR No.1184/17.
IN THE MATTER OF:­
Sh. Ajay Tiwari
S/o Sh. Janaki Prasad Tiwari, DOB 22.12.1989, 
R/o House No.462, 1st Pushta, Block­A, Gali No.7, 
Sonia Vihar, New Delhi­1110094, Mobile No.9560928415, 
Adhar Card No. 3293 1756 5487
C/o Sh. S.B. Tiwari, Secretary, Mobile No.9211987909, 
Mazdoor Kalyan Sangh (Regt No.3125), 13A, 
Rajpur Road, Delhi­110054.
                                                 ..............Workman
                               Versus
(1) M/s Excel Copygraphics Pvt. Ltd.,
(S/Sh. Avinash Chand Sher, Rajiv Goyal, Subodh Chand Kaushik, 
Owners), Shop No.5, 55­Ram Mandir Lane, New Delhi­110002, 
Tel. No.23268153.
(2) M/s. Mars Printech Pvt. Ltd.,
Building No.79, 1st Floor, 101, Shayam Lal Road, 
Darya Ganj, New Delhi­110002. 
                                                   ............. Management

DATE OF INSTITUTION          :                       25.04.2017.
DATE ON WHICH AWARD RESERVED :                       25.09.2017.
DATE ON WHICH AWARD PASSED   :                       10.10.2017.

A W A R D :­

1.           Vide   Order   No.F.24(127)/17/Ref./CD/Lab./639   dated
24.04.2017, issued by Govt. of NCT of Delhi, a reference was sent

LIR No.1184/17                                                        1/23
 to this Court with the following terms:­
               "Whether   Sh.   Ajay   Tiwari   S/o   Sh.   Janaki
               Prasad   Tiwari   absented   from   his   duties
               unauthorizedly   or   his   services   have   been
               terminated   illegally   and/or   unjustifiably   by
               the management and if so, to what relief is he
               entitled and what directions are necessary in
               this respect?"

2.             Claimant's   case   is   that   he   had   started   working   with
managements in January, 2004 as Office Boy at the last drawn salary
of Rs.10,090/­.   Both managements used to take work from him.
Before it, he had worked with M/s. Intel Engineers Pvt. Ltd. which
was run by the present managements.  He had worked honestly and
diligently   and   never   gave   any   chance   of   complaint.     The
managements   were   not   providing   him   legal   facilities   like
appointment   letter,   attendance   card,   leave   book,   pay­slip,   leave
encashment   and   overtime   wages   etc.     When   he   demanded   those
facilities   orally   time   and   again,   his   signatures   were   obtained   on
blank papers and vouchers on the assurance that all legal facilities
would   be   provided   soon.     His   service   was   terminated   by
management No.1 on 08.08.2016 without notice, notice pay, charge­
sheet   and   without   retrenchment   compensation   and   without
conducting domestic enquiry threatening that if he was seen in the
premises again, he would be implicated in a false case and was also
abused in filthy language.   Against that act of the management, he

LIR No.1184/17                                                                2/23
 filed a complaint to the police on 16.08.2016 and sent a demand
notice dated 16.08.2016 which went unreplied.   Case filed before
Conciliation   Officer   remained   unresolved.     He   is   jobless   since
termination of service. 


3.             Written statement of management No.1 is to the effect
that the case of the claimant is time barred because it has been filed
after   expiry   of   one   year.     He   was   dismissed   from   service   after
following due process of law i.e. after serving memo, one month
notice and one month salary.   He had failed to reply those notices
and hence, his service was terminated.   It is mentioned in reply on
merit that the claimant was not working with it in the year 2004.  He
had   submitted   handwritten   resume   only   on   31.03.2009   for
appointment.  He started working as Office Boy since 2009.  He was
not   a   permanent   employee   and   so,   he   was   not   provided   legal
facilities meant for a permanent employee.  He had started absenting
unauthorizedly w.e.f. 06.08.2016 without intimation and resignation
letter.  It sent reply to the demand notice on 03.09.2016 mentioning
that he was absent since 07.08.2016 without intimation. 


4.             Written statement of management No.2 is to the effect
that claimant had never worked with it and so, there was no relation
between it and claimant. 



LIR No.1184/17                                                                3/23
 5.              Following issues were framed on 13.07.2017:­
             1. Whether there was a relationship of employer and
                employee   between   management   No.2   and
                claimant? OPW. 
             2. Whether   claimant   himself   left   the   job   of
                management   No.1   by   remaining   unauthorizedly
                absent w.e.f. 06.08.17? OPM­1. 
             3. As per terms of reference. OPW.
             4. Relief. 


6.              In order to substantiate the case, the claimant tendered
his   affidavit   in   evidence   as   Ex.WW1/A   mentioning   all   the   facts
stated in statement of claim.  He relied upon following documents :­
      I. Ex.WW1/1 is copy of complaint dated 16.08.16 to SHO PS
         Daryaganj. 
      II. Ex.WW1/2 is copy of postal receipt vide which complaint was
          sent to PS Daryaganj. 
      III. Ex.WW1/3 is demand notice dated 16.08.16. 
      IV. Ex.WW1/4   are   copies   of   two   postal   receipts   vide   which
         demand notice was sent to managements. 
      V. Ex.WW1/5   is   statement   of   claim   filed   before   Conciliation
         Officer. 
      VI.   Mark   W1   (05   pages)   are   copies   of   five   vouchers   dated
         09.05.08, 07.07.06, 04.06.05, 04.03.05 and 08.06.200...


7.              The management No.1 examined two witnesses.
                M1W1 Sh. Hans Raj Dogra is Customer Attender, who


LIR No.1184/17                                                               4/23
 deposed  that   claimant  was  working  with  management  No.1  since
01.04.2009.  There was dispute between proprietor Sh. Subodh and
claimant for late coming.  
               M1W2 Sh. Subhodh Chandra Kaushik is the Proprietor
of management No.1.  He deposed that on 31.03.2009, the claimant
alongwith his brother, namely, Sh. Ravi Narain Tiwari had come in
his office with resume for job.   He had kept him in job as Office
Boy.     His   brother   was   also   doing   job   in   the   same   office.     The
claimant started working with him since 01.04.2009.   He used to
come late two or three days in a week but there was no problem in
his late coming because in morning time, no customer would visit
the shop.   On 06.08.2017, the claimant had come in the office at
about 10.25 AM and did duty.  Thereafter, he did not respond.  On
03.09.2016, he sent a letter to the claimant intimating that he was not
coming on duty.  The claimant did not send reply to that letter.  He
next   deposed   that   a   notice   dated   07.09.2016   came   to   him   from
Labour Commissioner  that claimant had lodged a complaint.   He
visited that office gave offer to claimant join back, but he did not
give   any   reply.     He   sent   a   letter   dated   09.01.2017   to   Labour
commissioner mentioning that claimant had got all dues from him
and had that his last salary of Rs.9,510/­ had been transferred in his
bank account on 05.08.2016.  He relied upon following documents:­
   i. Ex.M1W2/1   is   original   resume   dated   31.03.2009   of   the
       claimant.

LIR No.1184/17                                                                  5/23
      ii.  At this stage, an envelope already on the file is cut opened and
          it   is   found   containing   a   letter   dated   03.09.16   now
          Ex.M1W2/2.
     iii. Ex.M1W2/3 is the envelope containing the letter Ex.M1W2/2.
     iv.   Ex.M1W2/4 is letter dated 22.09.16 issued by management
         No.1   to   Deputy   Labour   Commissioner   (Central   District)
         alongwith postal receipt.
     v.   Ex.M1W2/5   is   complaint   dated   06.10.16   to   PS   Daryaganj
         against claimant.
     vi. Ex.M1W2/6 is letter dated 09.01.17 to ALC, Pusa, New Delhi
         alongwith salary transfer receipt vide which last salary was
         paid to the claimant. 
     vii. Ex.M1W2/7   is   notice   for   appearance   dated   07.09.16
         alongwith envelope. 


8.             The management No.2 also examined two witnesses. 
               M2W1   Sh.   Avinash   Chand   Sher   is   the   proprietor   of
management No.2.  He deposed that he was running the business by
the name of management No.2 since 30 years.   He did not know
claimant.   The claimant never worked with him.   On 01.04.2009,
about 17 workers were working with it, but the claimant was not one
of   them.     He   relied   upon   only   one   document   i.e.   letter   dated
10.04.2017 to ALC alongwith postal receipt as Ex.M2W1/1. 
               M2W2   Sh.   Amar   Singh   Verma   is   the   member   of
management   No.2.     He   deposed   that   he   was   working   with   that
management for last 25 years and that he never saw Sh. Ajay Tiwari


LIR No.1184/17                                                              6/23
 in the office of management No.2 doing any work. 


               Issue No. 1:
9.             Ld.   ARW   argued   that   claimant   was   forced   by
management   No.1   to   work   with   management   No.2   also.     The
distance between both managements is about 100 meters.   Salary
used to be paid to him by both managements.
               On the other hand, ld. AR for both managements argued
that   claimant   was   not   employee   of   management   No.2.     He   was
employed by only management No.1 and he was never forced to
work   with   management   No.2.   The   distance   between   both
managements is 700 meters and it was not possible for claimant to
work with both managements at the same time.   Salary used to be
paid by management No.2.   In the documents placed on record by
management No.1, it is crystal clearly mentioned that claimant was
employed with it.  The management No.2 has also placed on record
the   service   record   of   its   employees   from   which   the   name   of   the
claimant is conspicuously missing. 


10.            M2W1   Sh.   Avinash   Chand   Sher,   Proprietor   of
management No.2 deposed that he was running the business by that
name since 30 years and that a person namely Sh. Ajay Tiwari /
claimant never worked in his office.   He is fully supported by his


LIR No.1184/17                                                                 7/23
 employee namely Sh. Amar Singh Verma, M2W2 who deposed that
he was working with management since last 25 years and that he
never saw Sh. Ajay Tiwari in the office of management No.2 doing
any work.  Both these witnesses are fully corroborated by attendance
register of the employees of management No. 2 from 01.01.2004 to
31.08.2017.  In that register, name of the claimant is missing.  Had
claimant been employee of management No.2, his name would have
definitely   figured   in   that   register.     On   the   other   hand,   the
management   No.1   has   placed   on   record   salary   statement   of   its
employees from 01.10.2010 to 28.02.2017 and attendance register as
Ex.M1W2/W1   from   01.01.2010   to   31.05.2017.   In   both   registers,
name of the claimant is appearing as an employee of management
No.1.   It has been admitted by claimant also in cross­examination
that he was paid salary only by management No.1.  So, this issue is
decided in favour of management No.2 and against claimant.   


              Issue No.2:
11.           Ld. ARM argued that salary amounting to Rs.9,510/­
was credited into the account of claimant by management No.1 on
05.08.2016 vide cheque No.000374.  Before it, he was absent on 4 th
and 5th August, 2016.  He worked on 06.08.2016.  It was Sunday on
07.08.2016 and claimant was unauthorizedly absent from duty from
08.08.2016 onwards.   The management had sent him letter dated


LIR No.1184/17                                                            8/23
 03.09.2016   to   join   back,   but   despite   receipt   of   letter,   he   did   not
respond.   The management had sent letter dated 22.09.2016 to the
office of DLC, letter dated 06.10.2016 to SHO PS Daryaganj and
letter   dated   09.01.2017   to   the   office   of   Assistant   Labour
Commissioner   intimating   them   that   claimant   was   unauthorizedly
absent since 08.08.2016 and was not responding to join back duty
despite receipt of letter dated 03.09.2016.  He further argued that the
claimant had filed a case in labour office against management No.1
where management No.1 had taken plea that it was ready to take him
back but he refused to join duty.  In the evidence of M1W2, it has
come   that   management   is   ready   to   keep   him   back   on   duty   but
without   back   wages.     It   shows   that   claimant   had   intentionally
abandoned the job w.e.f. 08.08.2016.
                On the other hand, ld. ARW argued that claimant was
never absent from duty.  His service was terminated on 08.08.2016.
The   letter   dated   03.09.2016   could   not   be   delivered   to   claimant
because   it   was   sent   on   wrong   address.     Cousin   brother   of   the
claimant   was   working   with   management   No.1   but   despite   it,
management No.1 did not collect correct address from him to send
the second letter to him.   He further submitted that no offer was
given by management No.1 in the labour office to the claimant to
join back.    Before  this   court  also,  the  management  No.1  did  not
move any application that it was ready to retain claimant back on


LIR No.1184/17                                                                     9/23
 duty.  


12.            Salary amounting to Rs.9,510/­ for the month of July,
2016   has   been   proved   to   have   credited   in   the   bank   account   of
claimant,   by   ledger   account   Ex.M1W2/6.     Envelope   Ex.M1W2/3
was   opened   in   the   court   during   deposition   of   M1W2   and   it   was
found containing letter Ex.M1W2/2 dated 03.09.2016 in which it is
mentioned that the claimant was absent from office since 07.08.2016
without   intimation   and   he   was   requested   to   join   the   office
immediately or to submit resignation as per rules.  On that letter, the
address of the claimant is mentioned as "Shri Ajay Tiwari, S/o Shri
Janki Prasad Tiwari, House No. 462, 1st Pusta, Block­A, Gali No.7,
Sonia Vihar, New Delhi­94".   There is an endorsement by postal
authority on envelope Ex.M1W2/3 that the address was wrong.   It
has been admitted by M1W2 that the letter could not be delivered to
the claimant as it was received back by management undelivered
with the report "wrong address".  Due to non­delivery of letter dated
03.09.2016,   it   cannot   be   said   that   claimant   was   aware   that   the
management wanted to him to join back duty.  That letter was never
received   by   him.     Despite   it,   management   No.1   wrote   letters
Ex.M1W2/4,   Ex.M1W2/5   and   Ex.M1W2/6   dated   22.09.2016,
06.10.2016   and   09.01.2017   to   the   office   of   Deputy   Labour
Commissioner,   SHO   PS   Daryaganj   and   the   office   of   Assistant


LIR No.1184/17                                                              10/23
 Labour Commissioner respectively mentioning wrong facts that the
letter dated 03.09.2016 was served upon claimant and that he had
not   responded   to   join   back.     The   endorsement,   "wrong   address",
made   on   envelope   Ex.M1W2/3   is   dated   30.09.2010.     The   letter
might have been received back undelivered to management on 1st or
2nd  October, 2016.   Despite it, it wrongly represented to SHO and
ALC that the letter was served upon claimant.
              The initiation was taken not by management No.1 but
by claimant by sending demand notice Ex.WW1/3 dated 06.08.2016.
Ld.   ARM   argued   that   the   demand   notice   was   not   received   by
management No.1 because delivery report has not been placed on
record.  The notice was sent to management No.1 vide postal receipt
Ex.WW1/4 dated 16.08.2016.   It has been admitted by M1W2 that
the   address   of   management   No.1   mentioned   on   that   notice   was
correct one.  As the notice was correctly addressed and sufficiently
stamped,   it   can   be   presumed   that   the   same   might   have   been
delivered   to   management   No.1   within   2­3   days   of   the   ordinary
course of business.   Management No.1 had came into motion only
after receipt of that notice and dispatched the letter dated 03.09.2016
to the claimant.  It does not have any explanation why it did not send
immediately a letter to him asking to join back. 
              To   prove   that   it   had   given   offer   in   labour   office   to
claimant  to  resume  duty,  the  management  No.1  did  not  place  on


LIR No.1184/17                                                                  11/23
 record   proceedings   of   that   office.     In   the   absence   of   those
proceedings, it cannot be said that such offer was given to claimant.
Due to above reasons, it is held that claimant had not abandoned the
job of management No.1 w.e.f. 08.08.2016.  This issue is decided in
favour of claimant and against management No.1. 


              Issue No.3:
13.           Ld.  ARM  argued that  it  is  the  admitted  position  that
cousin brother of the claimant was still working with management
No.1 but he was not examined to prove to illegal termination.  Ld.
ARW submitted that a worker of private company cannot depose
against   the   employer   and   if   he   does   so,   his   service   may   be
terminated immediately.
              It has been admitted by claimant in cross­examination
that   his   bua's   son   Sh.   Ravi   Narayan   Tiwari   was   working   with
management No.1.   It was Sh. Ravi Narayan Tiwari who had got
him appointed with management No.1.  It is also correct that the said
person has not been produced by claimant in witness box.  But it is
also true that if an employee of a management deposes against it, the
only consequence would be dismissal from service.   Had Sh. Ravi
Narayan Tiwari dared to appear in witness box against management
No.1, his service would also have been terminated.  The only reason
of non­production of Sh. Ravi Narayan Tiwari is apprehension of


LIR No.1184/17                                                            12/23
 not only claimant but also of Mr. Tiwari that he would loss job if he
appeared in the witness box.  So, there is reasonable explanation for
not examining Sh. Ravi Narayan Tiwari. 


14.            It   is   the   consistent   stand   of   claimant   in   statement   of
claim   and   affidavit   in   evidence   that   his   service   was   terminated
illegally by management No.1.   On the other hand, the defence of
management   No.1   is   that   he   had   abandoned   the   job   w.e.f.
08.08.2016 by remaining unauthorizedly absent.   That defence has
already   been   found   false.     Management's   plea   is   not   that   it   had
issued   any   notice   or   tendered   notice   pay   and   retrenchment
compensation to the claimant before terminating his service.   So,
management No.1 had violated the provisions of Section 25F of the
I.D. Act, 1947 in terminating his service.   This issue is decided in
favour of claimant and against management No.1. 


               Issue No.4:
15.            About length of service, ld. ARW argued that claimant
had joined management No.1 in January, 2004 and his service was
terminated on 08.08.2016.  On the other hand, ld. ARM argued that
claimant had given his resume dated 31.03.2009 to management on
which he was appointed and he joined on 01.04.2009 and worked till
06.08.2009.  In support of length of service, the claimant is heavily


LIR No.1184/17                                                                   13/23
 relying upon salary vouchers Mark W1 (collectively).  The vouchers
have been objected to by ARM on the ground that those have gone
unproved   because   the   originals   were   not   produced.     Those
documents were not confronted to M1W2 in cross­examination.  In
last two vouchers, the year is not visible.   He strongly relied upon
resume Ex.M1W2/1 dated 31.03.2009 of the claimant.   He further
submitted that claimant has admitted in cross­examination that he
had   passed  10th  class   as   a   regular   student   in   2006.     He   has   also
admitted that he has passed 8th class from Delhi as a regular student.
Presence of a regular student is marked in the school.  He cannot be
expected to work and study simultaneously as a regular student.  On
the other hand, ld. ARW argued that resume was not confronted to
claimant in cross­examination to know whether it was bearing his
signature or not.


16.            Particulars   of   the   claimant   are   mentioned   in   resume
Ex.M1W2/1 dated 31.03.2009.   But the resume was not put to the
claimant   in   cross­examination   to   know   whether   it   was   in   his
handwriting and whether it was bearing his signature.   There is no
report   of   any   handwriting   expert   that   the   same   is   bearing   the
signature of the claimant.  Due to these reasons, resume Ex.M1W2/1
has gone unproved and is not helpful to management No.1 to prove
that claimant has joined it only on 01.04.2009.
               The claimant is strongly relying upon salary vouchers

LIR No.1184/17                                                                   14/23
 (5 in number) as Mark W1.   The first voucher is dated 09.05.2008
and it is on the letter head of the management No.1.   The second
voucher is dated 07.07.2006 and is on the letter head of management
No.1.   The third voucher is dated 04.03.2005 and is bearing   the
stamp of management No.1.   That voucher is not free from doubt
because   there   is   cutting   on   the   year   2005.     Years   of   last   two
vouchers are not legible.  The  vouchers are not bearing the signature
of any person on behalf of management No.1.  Those were not put to
M1W2 to know whether they were issued by management No.1 or
not.  Hence, these vouchers cannot be taken as piece of evidence to
prove length of service. 
               It has been admitted by claimant in cross­examination
that he had passed 8th  class from Delhi as a regular student.   He
passed   9th  class   from   his   village   Tikatiwari   Purva,   Sultanpur   by
studying in Bhartia Uchchatar Madhyamik Vidyalaya, Pipri Sainath,
District Sultanpur as a regular student.  Detailed marks card issued
by the Board of High School and Intermediate Education, UP is on
the file and is dated 25.05.2006.  It is mentioned in DMC that he had
appeared   as   regular   student   in   High   School   examination   held   in
March / April, 2006.   As he was a regular student, he may have
taken   admission   in   10th  class   in   April,   2005.     Before   taking
admission in 10th  class, it has been admitted by claimant, he had
passed 9th class as a regular student.  So, he had passed 9 th class in


LIR No.1184/17                                                                15/23
 March, 2005.   Hence, he may have taken admission in 9th  class in
April, 2004.  It has been admitted by him in cross­examination that
he had passed 8th class from Delhi as a regular  student.  So, he may
have taken admission in 8th class in April, 2003.  It means that from
April,   2003   to   March,   2006,   the   claimant   used   to   attend   school
regularly.     Such   a   person   cannot   be   said   to   have   done   job
simultaneously. 


17.            Management   No.1   has   placed   on   record   salary
statement of its employees from 01.10.2010 to 28.02.2017.   It has
also filed the attendance register as Ex.M1W2/W1 from 01.10.2010
to   31.05.2017.     In   those   registers,   the   name   of   the   claimant   is
appearing as an employee of management No.1.   The management
No.1 was directed by this court to produce following service record
of its employees:­
i.     Attendance register from 01.01.2004 to 31.12.2009. 
ii.    Salary statement from 01.01.2004 to 30.09.2009. 
               It   has   been   admitted   by   M1W2   in   cross­examination
that   he   did   not   produce   the   directed   record.     Ld.   ARW   placed
reliance  upon  MCD  Vs.   Rajinder   Singh  Negi,  101  (2002)   Delhi
Law Times 481,  to argue that adverse inference be drawn against
management No.1 for not producing the documents despite direction
by the court.  In the cited case, the labour court had directed MCD to


LIR No.1184/17                                                                16/23
 produce service record of its employees which it did not produce and
hence, adverse inference was drawn against it.  In the case in hand, it
has   already   been   established   that   claimant   was   a   regular   student
from April, 2003 to April, 2006, whereas his claim is that he had
joined   the   management   in   January,   2004.     The   attendance   of   a
regular student is marked in the school.  If he fails to attend school
for   requisite   number   of   days,   he   cannot   be   allowed   to   take
examination.     Being   a   regular   student,   it   cannot   be   said   that   the
claimant had joined the management in January, 2004.  Due to that
reason, no adverse inference is drawn against management No.1 for
not producing directed record.  It has been admitted by management
No.1 in written statement that claimant had joined it on 01.04.2009.
On the strength of that admission, it is held that claimant had joined
management   No.1   on   01.04.2009   and   not   in   January,   2004.     So,
length of service is taken from 01.04.2009 to 07.08.2016. 


18.            Even   if   service   of   a   workman   has   been   terminated
illegally,   that   would   not   automatically   lead   to   reinstatement   and
100% back wages.   In Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan Vs. Union
of India & Ors. 2000 IV AD (Delhi) 709, Hon'ble Delhi High Court
dealt   with   the   question   of   reinstatement   and   back   wages     and
observed in paragraphs 27  and 28 as under :­
               "27. We   find   from   the   decision   of   the
               Supreme   Court   rendered   in   the   1970s   and

LIR No.1184/17                                                                  17/23
              1980s   that   reinstatement   with   back   wages
             was the norm in cases where the termination
             of   the   services   of   the   workman   was   held
             inoperative.     The   decisions   rendered   in   the
             1990s,   including   the   decision   of   the
             Constitution   Bench   in   the   Punjab   Land
             Development   and   Reclamation   Corporation
             Ltd.,   Chandigarh   seem   to   suggest   that
             compensation   in   lieu   of   reinstatement   and
             back wages is now the norm.   In any case,
             since we are bound to follow the decision of
             the   Constitution   Bench,   we,   therefore,
             conclude   that   reinstatement   is   not   the
             inevitable consequence of quashing an order
             of termination; compensation can be awarded
             in lieu of reinstatement and back wages.

             28. Considering the facts of this case, we
             are persuaded to award compensation in lieu
             of   reinstatement   and   back   wages   to   the
             workman"

19.          In  Municipal   Council,   Sujanpur   Vs.   Surinder
Kumar 2006 LLR 662, Hon'ble Supreme Court observed that the
relief of reinstatement is not automatic but is in the discretion of the
court.  In paragraph 16, it was observed as under :­

             "Apart from the aforementioned error of law,
             in our considered opinion, the Labour Court
             and consequently the High Court completely
             misdirected themselves insofar as they failed
             to   take   into   consideration   that   relief   to   be
             granted in terms of section 11A of the said
             Act being discretionary in nature, a Labour

LIR No.1184/17                                                            18/23
              Court was required to consider the facts of
             each case therefor.   Only because relief by
             way   of   reinstatement   with   full   back   wages
             would be lawful, it would not mean that the
             same would be granted automatically".

20.          In Vinod Kumar & others vs Salwan Public School &
others   WP(c)5820/2011   dt.17.11.2014  Hon,ble   Justice   V.
Kameshwar Rao has held as under:­
             11. Having considered the rival submissions
             of the counsels for the parties, I do not find
             any   infirmity   in   the   order   of   the   Labour
             Court. It is a settled position of law that even
             if   termination   has   been   held   to   be   illegal,
             reinstatement with full back wages is not to
             be granted automatically. The Labour Court
             is   within   its   right   to   mould   the   relief   by
             granting a lump­sum compensation. In fact, I
             note that the Labour Court has relied upon
             three judgments propounding the law that the
             Labour Court can mould a relief by granting
             lump sum compensation; the Labour Court is
             entitled to grant relief having regard to facts
             and circumstances of each case. 
             12.   Further,   the   Supreme   Court   in   the
             following judgments held as under: 
             (a)   In   the   matter   reported   as  Jaipur
             Development  Authority  v.  Ramsahai,  (2006)
             11 SCC 684, the court has stated: 
             "However, even assuming that there had been
             a violation of Sections 25­G and 25­H of the
             Act, but, the same by itself, in our opinion,
             would not mean that the Labour Court should

LIR No.1184/17                                                            19/23
              have passed an award of reinstatement with
             entire back wages. This Court time and again
             has   held   that   the   jurisdiction   under   Section
             11­A   must   be   exercised   judiciously.   The
             workman  must  be  employed  by  State  within
             the meaning of Article 12 of  the Constitution
             of   India,   having   regard   to   the   doctrine   of
             public   employment.   It   is   also   required   to
             recruit employees in terms of the provisions of
             the   rules   for   recruitment   framed   by   it.   The
             respondent   had   not   regularly   served   the

appellant.   The   job   was   not   of     perennial nature.  There  was  nothing to show  that he, when his services were terminated any person who was junior to him in the same category, had   been   retained.   His   services   were dispensed with as early as in 1987. It would not be proper to direct his reinstatement with back wages. We, therefore, are of the opinion that interest of justice would be subserved if instead and in place of reinstatement of his services, a sum of Rs 75,000 is awarded to the respondent   by   way   of   compensation   as   has been done by this Court in a number of its judgments." 

(b)   In   the   matter   reported   as  Nagar Mahapalika   v.  State  of  U.P.,  (2006)   5  SCC 127, the court has stated: 

"23. Non­compliance  with the  provisions  of Section   6­N   of   the   U.P.   Industrial   Disputes Act, although, may lead to the grant of a relief of   reinstatement   with   full   back   wages   and continuity   of   service   in   favour   of   the retrenched   workmen,   the   same   would   not mean   that   such   a   relief   is   to   be   granted LIR No.1184/17 20/23 automatically or as a matter of  course.  25 .....The appellant herein has clearly stated that the appointments of the respondents have been  made  in  violation  of  the  provisions   of the   Adhiniyam.   An   appointment   made   in violation of the provisions of the Adhiniyam is void. The same, however, although would not mean   that   the   provisions   of   the   Industrial Disputes Act are not required to be taken into consideration   for   the   purpose   of determination of the question as to whether the termination of workmen from services is legal or not but the same should have to be considered to be an important factor in the matter   of   grant   of   relief.   The   Municipal Corporation   deals   with   public   money. Appointments of the respondents were made for carrying out the work of assessment. Such assessments   are   done   periodically.   Their services, thus, should not have been directed to   be   continued   despite   the   requirements therefor having come to an end. It, therefore, in our considered view, is not a case where the relief of reinstatement should have been granted." 

(c) In the matter reported as  Talwara Coop. Credit   and   Service   Society   Ltd.   v.   Sushil Kumar,   (2008)   9   SCC   486,  the   court   has stated: 

"8.   Grant  of   a   relief   of   reinstatement,   it  is trite, is not automatic. Grant of back wages is also   not   automatic.   The   Industrial   Courts while   exercising   their   power   under   Section 11­A of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 are required to strike a balance in a situation of LIR No.1184/17 21/23 this   nature.   For   the   said   purpose,   certain relevant   factors,   as   for   example,   nature   of service, the mode and manner of recruitment viz. whether the appointment had been made in accordance with the statutory rules so far as a public sector undertaking is concerned, etc., should be taken into consideration." 

(d) In the matter reported as Jagbir Singh v. Haryana   State   Agriculture   Mktg.   Board, (2009) 15 SCC 327, the court has stated : 

"7.   It   is   true   that   the   earlier   view   of   this Court articulated in many decisions reflected the legal position that if the termination of an employee was found to be illegal, the relief of reinstatement   with   full   back   wages   would ordinarily   follow.   However,   in   recent   past, there  has been  a shift in  the  legal position and in a long line of cases, this Court has consistently taken the view that  relief by way of   reinstatement   with   back   wages   is   not automatic and may be wholly inappropriate in   a   given   fact   situation   even   though   the termination   of   an   employee   is   in contravention of the prescribed procedure. ...
14. An order of retrenchment passed in violation of  Section 25­F although may be set aside but an award of reinstatement should not, however, be automatically passed. The award of reinstatement   with   full   back   wages   in   a   case   where   the workman has completed 240 days of work in a year preceding the   date   of   termination,   particularly,   daily   wagers   has   not been   found   to   be   proper   by   this   Court   and   instead compensation   has   been   awarded.   This   Court   has distinguished between a daily wager who does not hold a post and a permanent employee." 
LIR No.1184/17 22/23

21.  The claimant had gained an experience of about 7 years while working with management.   He did not pinpoint any work place visited by him  in connection with re­employment.   Had he tried seriously, he would have definitely got job of equal status and salary.     So,   his   deposition   that   he   is   jobless   since   termination   is general and vague.  It rules out the possibility of reinstatement.

Taking into account the length of service of 07 years and 04 months and last drawn salary of Rs.10,090/­, a lump­sum compensation   of   Rs.1,75,000/­   (Rupees   One   Lakh   Seventy   Five Thousand Only) is granted to the claimant.   The management No.1 is directed to pay the said amount to him within a month from the date of publication of the award, failing which it shall be liable to pay   interest   on   it   @   9   per   cent   per   annum   from   today   till   its realization.     Reference   is   answered  accordingly.  Award  is   passed accordingly.

22. The requisite number of copies of the award be sent to the Govt. of NCT of Delhi for its publication.  File be consigned to Record Room. 

Dictated to the Steno & announced    (UMED SINGH GREWAL) in the open Court on 10.10.2017.     PILOT COURT/POLC­XVII       KKD COURT, DELHI.    

   UMED                                         Digitally signed by
                                                UMED SINGH GREWAL
   SINGH                                        Location: Delhi
                                                Date: 2017.10.10 23/23
   GREWAL
LIR No.1184/17
                                                16:41:12 +0530