Rajasthan High Court - Jaipur
Shambhu Dayal Meena S/O Ram Karan vs Sub Chief Engineer (2024:Rj-Jp:3339) on 19 January, 2024
Author: Sameer Jain
Bench: Sameer Jain
[2024:RJ-JP:3339] (1 of 7) [CW-12704/2022]
HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE FOR RAJASTHAN
BENCH AT JAIPUR
S.B. Civil Writ Petition No. 12704/2022
Shambhu Dayal Meena S/o Ram Karan, Through Mahamantri
Vidhut Karmchari Union Kota.
----Petitioner
Versus
Sub Chief Engineer, (P And A) Kota Tharmal Power Project,
Sakatpura, Kota (Rajasthan)
----Respondent
For Petitioner(s) : Mr. Sunil Kumar Singodiya
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SAMEER JAIN
Order
19/01/2024
1. The present writ petition was filed with the following prayers:
"a. By an appropriate writ, order or direction that the impugned order dated 28.07.2022 passed by Labour Judge, Kota may kindly be quashed and set aside.
b. By an appropriate writ, order or direction that the removal of service of petitioner from dated 01.02.1989 is illegal, and not proper in the eye of law.
c. By an appropriate writ, order or direction that petitioner is entitled for reinstatement of service from 01.02.1989 with all consequential benefits. d. Pass any other appropriate relief, which this Hon'ble Court deems fit in favour of the petitioner, may also be passed.
e. cost of this writ petition may kindly be awarded to petitioner."
2. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner was initially appointed on the post of 'Ardaly' on 01.04.1984 with the respondent. However, the petitioner was illegally removed (Downloaded on 09/02/2024 at 10:19:39 PM) [2024:RJ-JP:3339] (2 of 7) [CW-12704/2022] from service on 01.02.1989 without following due process of law, whereas similarly situated Badali Workers were regularized on the post of Helper Grade III/IV on 05.02.1990 in compliance of departmental order dated 09.05.1989. It is contended that the petitioner was denied the said benefit on the sole ground that petitioner had not completed 240 days in service, whereas the petitioner did indeed work from 01.04.1989 to 31.02.1989. IN support of his contention, learned counsel for the petitioner has placed reliance upon letter dated 27.06.1989 issued by Mr. P.K. Agarwal, Ex. Eng. KTPS.
3. Heard and considered.
4. It is trite law that there is limited scope of interference with a well-reasoned order while exercising power of judicial review under the writ jurisdiction. It is a well-settled principle of law that in the guise of exercising power of judicial review, the High Court cannot convert itself into a court of appeal. It is equally well- settled that the supervisory jurisdiction extends to keeping the subordinate courts and tribunals within the limits of their authority and ensuring that they obey the law. The power of judicial review is circumscribed by the limits of correcting errors of law or procedural errors leading to manifest injustice or violation of principles of natural justice. Reliance in this regard can be placed on plethora of Apex Court judgments, including Union of India vs. P. Gunasekaran: (2015) 2 SCC 610, Regional Manager, UCO Bank & Ors. vs. Krishna Kumar Bhardwaj: (2022) 5 SCC 695, Anil Kumar Gupta vs. Union of India & Ors.: AIR 2022 SC 5626, V Ramana vs. APSRTC & Ors.: (2005) 7 SCC 327, Mohd. Inam vs. Sanjay Kumar Singhal & Ors.: (2020) (Downloaded on 09/02/2024 at 10:19:39 PM) [2024:RJ-JP:3339] (3 of 7) [CW-12704/2022] 7 SCC 327 and CISF vs. Santosh Kumar Pandey: 2023 (2) SLR 835 (SC).
5. The relevant portion of the impugned order dated 28.07.2022 is reproduced as under:
" 6- gLrxr izdj.k esa loZizFke ;gh ns[kuk gS fd D;k izkFkhZ o vizkFkhZ ds e/; ÞdeZdkj o fu;kstdß ds lEcU/k LFkkfir jgs gS\ bl lEcU/k esa U;k;ky; ds le{k tks tokc Dyse izLrqr gqvk gS mlesa vizkFkhZ mi eq[; vfHk;Urk ¼ih ,.M ,½ dsVhih,l] dksVk dk eq[; :i ls ;g vfHkdFku jgk gS fd muds }kjk izkFkhZ Jfed dks vius laLFkku esa dHkh Hkh vnZyh ds in ij fu;qfDr ugha nh x;h cfYd ih-ds-vxzoky] lgk;d vfHk;Urk ¼lh ,.M ih½ dsVhih,l] dksVk us mls vius ?kjsyq dk;Z djus fy, fn- 01@04@84 dks fu;qDr fd;k FkkA tokc Dyse esa ;gh Hkh vafdr jgk gS fd rRdkyhu jkt- jkT; fo|qr e.My }kjk tkjh vkns"k fnukafdr 09@05@89 esa ;g vo"; vknsf"kr Fkk fd tks vnZyh bl vkns"k dh fnukad rd nks o'kZ ;k mlls vf/kd dh vof/k dk lsokdky iwjk dj pqds gSa rFkk bl vkns"k dh fnukad dks Hkh vnZyh ds :i esa dk;Zjr gSa rks muds lEcU/k esa fu;fer djus dh izfØ;k izkjEHk dh tkos] fdUrq izkFkhZ bl ifjf/k esa ugha vkrk Fkk D;ksafd og bl vkns"k esa of.kZrkuqlkj fn- 09@05@89 dks e.My ds dfFkr vf/kdkjh ;k vU; fdlh Hkh vf/kdkjh ds ;gk¡ vnZyh ds :i esa dk;Zjr ugha Fkk cfYd mlus Lo;a gh viuh bPNk ls blls iwoZs gh] vFkkZr fn- 31@01@89 ls dk;Z ij vkuk cUn dj fn;k Fkk] vr% mldk lek;kstu ugha fd;k tk ldkA bl lEcU/k esa ih- ds- vxzoky] vf/k"kk'kh vfHk;Urk us vizkFkhZ dh vksj ls lk{kh ds :i esa viuh ftjg esa Lo;a ;g Lohdkj fd;k gS fd mlus izkFkhZ dks vius ?kjsyw dk;Z gsrq j[kk Fkk ftl gsrq mls O;fDrxr fu;qfDr&i= fn;k x;k Fkk] pwafd 25 lky iqjkuh ckr gS blfy, jsdkMZ ns[kdj gh crk ldrk gS fd fu;qfDr&i= fdl rkjh[k dks fn;k FkkA bldk ;g Hkh LohdkjksfDr dFku jgk gS fd izkFkhZ dks osru ;g Lo;a nsrk Fkk tksfd mls izfri{kh vkaf"kd :i ls nsrk FkkA izkFkhZ dke ij lqcg 8&10 cts vkrk Fkk o mlds ckn "kke dks 5 cts ckn vkrk Fkk rFkk izkFkhZ dh dgha ij Hkh (Downloaded on 09/02/2024 at 10:19:39 PM) [2024:RJ-JP:3339] (4 of 7) [CW-12704/2022] gkftjh ugha yxrh Fkh] izkFkhZ ls mldh iRuh dke ysrh FkhA bl lk{kh us bl lq>ko ls Hkh bUdkjh dh gS fd izkFkhZ us foHkkx esa 01@04@84 ls 3`1@01@89 rd fu;fer :i ls dke fd;k rFkk izkFkhZ ls dk;kZy; esa pk; fiykus dk dk;Z fy;k tkrk gksA bl ckcr Lo;a izkFkhZ Jfed us Hkh ftjg esa dFku fd;k gS fd blds ikl fu;qfDr&i= fyf[kr esa ugha gS rFkk ;g Li'Vr% LohdkjksfDr dFku fd;k gS fd bls ih- ds- vxzoky] lgk;d vfHk;Urk ¼lh ,.M ih½ us fu;qfDr nh Fkh rFkk bls fn- 01@04@84 dks vnZyh ds :i esa j[kk x;k FkkA ;g Hkh dFku fd;k gS fd bls xsV ikl tkjh ugha gqvk D;ksafd ;g vf/kdka"kr% ?kjsyw dk;Z gh lkgc ds ?kj ij djrk FkkA izkFkhZ dk ftjg esa ;g Hkh Li'Vr% LohdkjksfDr dFku jgk gS fd bldks ih- ds- vxzoky lgk;d vfHk;Urk us ukSdjh ij j[kk Fkk ftUgsa i{kdkj ugha cuk;k gSA Li'Vr% izkFkhZ dh vksj ls vfHkys[k ij ,slk dksbZ Hkh nLrkost izLrqr ugha fd;k x;k gS ftlls ;g izdV gksrk gks fd izkFkhZ dks vizkFkhZ mi eq[; vfHk;Urk ¼ih ,.M ,½ dsVhih,l] dksVk }kjk vius fu;kstu esa vnZyh ;k fdlh in ij fu;ksftr fd;k x;k gks vkSj ogh izkFkhZ ds osru ;k etnwjh dk Hkqxrku djrs gksaA fu'd'kZr% izkFkhZ fdlh ekSf[kd ;k nLrkosth lk{; ls ;g rF; lkfcr djus esa iw.kZr;k vlQy jgk gS fd izkFkhZ o vizkFkhZ ds e/; ÞdeZdkj o fu;kstdß ds lEcU/k LFkkfir jgs gksaA vr% vizkFkhZ mi eq[; vfHk;Urk ¼ih ,.M ,½ dsVhih,l] dksVk dks izkFkhZ ds fdlh Hkh ekeys ds fy, mRrjnk;h ugha Bgjk;k tk ldrkA vc blh ifjizs{; esa izkFkhZ dh jgh ;g lk{; fd mls fu;qfDr ih- ds- vxzoky] lgk;d vfHk;Urk ¼lh ,.M ih½ dsVhih,l] dksVk }kjk vnZyh ds :i esa nh x;h Fkh] fdUrq mldk ;g Hkh Li'V LohdkjksfDr dFku jgk gS fd og bu vf/kdkjh ds ;gk¡ ?kj ij gh ?kjsyw dk;Z djrk Fkk ftldk mls ogh Hkqxrku djrs FksA blh lUnHkZ esa ;gk¡ ;g Hkh mYysf[kr fd;k tkuk cgqr izklkafxd gS fd izkFkhZ dh vksj ls tc ;g dFku fd;k x;k gS fd mls mDr ih-ds-vxzoky] lgk;d vfHk;Urk }kjk gh ?kjsyw dk;Z gsrq fu;qDr fd;k x;k gS rks mUgsa gh fof/k vuq:i vius izdj.k esa vizkFkhZ i{kdkj cuk;k tkuk pkfg, Fkk tks mlus ,slk ugha fd;kA ;gh ugha] Jh ih- ds- vxzoky dks vizkFkhZ us viuh lk{; esa izLrqr (Downloaded on 09/02/2024 at 10:19:39 PM) [2024:RJ-JP:3339] (5 of 7) [CW-12704/2022] fd;k gS vkSj ftUgksaus Li'V :i ls vius c;kuksa esa ;g dFku fd;k gS fd mUgksus "kEHkqn;ky dks ?kjsyw dk;Z gsrq dke ij j[kk Fkk vkSj mlus 01@04@84 ls 31@01@89 rd dHkh fu;fer :i ls dk;Z ugha fd;k gSA bl izdkj Lo;a ih- ds-vxzoky }kjk gh izkFkhZ ds dFkuksa dk leFkZu ugha fd;k x;k gSA 7 tgka rd izkFkhZ dk mDr ih-ds-vxzoky] lgk;d vfHk;Urk ds ;gka mlds dFkukuqlkj dk;Z fd;s tkus dk iz"u gS] izkFkhZ us ftjg esa bl lq>ko dks xyr gksuk crk;k gS fd mlus fn- 01@04@84 ls 31@01@89 rd yxkrkj dk;Z ugha fd;k gks] ysfdu ih- ds- vxzoky us ftjg esa ;g dFku fd;k gS fd gj nks&rhu eghus esa vnZyh pst a gksrs jgrs Fks blfy, ;g fu;fer :i ls dke ugha dj ikrs FksA 01@04@84 ls 31@01@89 ds chp esa tksxk ckbZ] Hkaojh ckbZ] dY;k.kh vkfn djhcu 15&20 vnZyh j[ks Fks mlds ikl dbZ vnZyh;ksa us dke fd;k] izkFkhZ dHkh xkao pyk tkrk] dHkh i<+us pyk tkrk Fkk] dHkh nwljs lgk;d vfHk;ark ds ikl pyk tkrk FkkA izkFkhZ ds dke ij u vkus dh foHkkxk/;{k dks lwpuk ugha nh xbZ D;ksafd ,slk dksbZ izko/kku ugha FkkA ;fn izkFkhZ eghus esa 5 fnu vkrk Fkk rks mldks 5 fnu ds fglkc ls iSls nsrs FksA bl izdkj xokg ds c;kuksa ls ;g izdV gks jgk gS fd izkFkhZ }kjk mlds ;gka fu;fer :i ls dke ugha fd;k x;k vkSj izkFkhZ ds vykok mlds ;gka vU; dbZ yksxks us Hkh vnZyh ds :i esa dke fd;k gSA ih- ds- vxzoky] lgk;d vfHk;Urk tksfd vizkFkhZ i{k dh vksj ls lk{; esa mifLFkr gq, gSa] us viuh ftjg esa bl lq>ko ls lkQ bUdkjh dh gS fd izkFkhZ us foHkkx esa fn- 01@04@84 ls 31@01@89 rd fu;fer :i esa dke fd;k gks ;k mlls dk;kZy; esa pk; fiykus dk dk;Z fy;k tkrk gksA izkFkhZ Lo;a dh ftjg esa LohdkjksfDr vuqlkj mlus fnukad 01@04@84 ls 31@01@89 rd yxkrkj dk;Z fd;s tkus lEcU/kh dksbZ Hkh nLrkost U;k;ky; ds le{k is"k ugha fd;k gSA ;gh ugha] izkFkhZ }kjk vius LVsVesVa vkWQ Dyse ;g Hkh Li'V ugha fd;k x;k gS mldks ekfld fdruk vkSj fdlds }kjk Hkqxrku fd;k tkrk FkkA bl izdkj fdlh Hkh n`f'Vdks.k ls ns[kk tk;s] izkFkhZ ;g rF; fl) djus esa iw.kZr;k foQy jgk gS fd mlds o vizkFkhZ ds e/; ÞdeZdkj o fu;kstdß ds (Downloaded on 09/02/2024 at 10:19:39 PM) [2024:RJ-JP:3339] (6 of 7) [CW-12704/2022] lEcU/k LFkkfir jgs gSa o og ;g Hkh fl) djus esa iw.kZr;k vlQy jgk gS fd mlus ih-ds- vxzoky] lgk;d vfHk;Urk ¼lh ,.M ih½ dsVhih,l] dksVk ds v/khu dk;kZy; esa fdlh vnZyh ds in ij fu;skftr gksdj rFkkdfFkr fu;kstukof/k fn- 01@04@84 ls 31@01@89 rd fu;fer :i ls dk;Z djrs gq, vfUre dyS.Mj o'kZ esa fujUrj 240 fnu ;k mlls vf/kd dk dk;Z fd;k gks cfYd mlus rks mDr vf/kdkjh ds ;gk¡ futh rkSj ij ?kjsyw ukSdj ds gh :i esa dk;Z fd;k gS ftl dkj.k og vf/kfu;e ds fdlh Hkh izko/kkukUrxZr fdlh laj{k.k dk vf/kdkjh ugha gS vkSj ,sls esa fdlh vuqrks'k dk vf/kdkjh ?kksf'kr gksus ;ksX; ugha gS vkSj jsQzsUl Hkh blh vuq:i mRrfjr gksus ;ksX; gSA"
6. The Labour Court duly noted the following to arrive at the conclusion that the petitioner had not worked for a period of 240 days:
a.) That petitioner was doing domestic chores at the residence of Mr. P.K. Agarwal, Ex. Eng. KTPS, that too at irregular intervals, and not discharging any official duties of the respondent. b.) That though the petitioners contends that he was working regularly and receiving due salary from the respondent, no evidence whatsoever was advanced by the petitioner in this regard.
c.) That even Mr. P.K. Agarwal, Ex. Eng. KTPS had stated that the petitioner, and several other daily wage workers like him, were working at irregular intervals and their work was limited to domestic chores and not work related to the respondent. d.) That there was no remuneration fixed for the petitioner and the petitioner was paid daily wages for the days he worked. e.) That even in the statement of claim, the petitioner had not specified any details of the purported salary received by him and who was the authority issuing such salary.
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[2024:RJ-JP:3339] (7 of 7) [CW-12704/2022]
7. Conclusion of fact, which are based upon evaluation and appreciation of evidence, when meticulously reached by authorities, should not be ordinarily interfered with.
8. In the opinion of this Court, the learned Labour Court has passed well-reasoned speaking orders and after consideration of material aspects, arrived at a logical conclusion. This Court is in complete agreement with the reasoning adopted by the Labour Courts. There is no violation of principles of natural justice and no palpable error has crept in the orders of the Labour Court, warranting interference by this Court.
9. Therefore, the present petition stands dismissed. Pending application(s), if any, shall stand disposed of.
(SAMEER JAIN),J DEEPAK/s-430 (Downloaded on 09/02/2024 at 10:19:39 PM) Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)