Karnataka High Court
General Secretary Ksrtc vs The Divisional Controller, Ksrtc on 27 January, 2010
Author: Ram Mohan Reddy
Bench: Ram Mohan Reddy
A4344 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA. DATED THIS THE 27'1"" DAY OF _ BEFORE j; THE IIONBLE MR.JUs'r:cE , WRIT PETITION No';3S;49V9 OF-éiocg. (I.-K) BETWEEN : A A A O H H GENERAL s13cR:«:'I"AR§i_ " T KsRTC,s&W'u__NI0N L<0LAIzDIv;1'sr®i\:' KOLAR iN~R:F;S§?_EC'I" OF V R. RADHA KRISHNI'-\»W'¥fRKM£:.N PETITIONER (BY ,$RI: T3: A113x)'O,"}" V AND} 1 THE I5r'J_1:s1Vc)NAi;;. CO"N"1'R01,LI5R .. KS'I?.'£'C._ KOLAR DIVISION ._ V ' . .- _ . . . . .. ' O IIIANAQING DIRECTOR " ._;KSR'_}TC.'CC)NTROL OF1'~<'IC'£;S sI~1AN*:jIIiI'1NAGAR E3ANGALORI£ 560 027 ...RESPOND'f;N"I'S VV"".i.'HIS PI*I'I'I'I'IO}\:' FILED UNIJER ARTICLES 226 ('Si 227 V' O OF THE. CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYiNG TO CALL FOR 'THE ENTIRE RECORDS PERTAINING TO 'I'HI33 CASE IN ; I.[).NO.8I/2060 ON THE F1113 OF THE INDUSTRIAL O TRIBUNAL. BANGALORE AN D f:7TC. THLS PETITION COMING ON FOR PRL.-Pil-CARING THIS DAY. THE COU RT MADE 'I'I"iE FOLLOWING: "Q i gr W2" ORDER
".I'1'1e peiit.i0ne1'/Union espousing the-*::a1L:'Se';'()f *'a1jiev of its memberss by name R.Ra1dh:',1k:'is_hi'iéi;£1»C'C;i1'd.i1c:tO1'~_ in the respondeni.--Pub1ic Roaid _.CQrp'()~r.afi-i.()n aggrieved by uric aw-d;~d di1...:":~g,2.2003Vin'i1,,Di,_§s"1~,zV2'b00 of the Industrial 'E'ribz,ma1. Ba-:13alcj'1*e. re'e'c:tvinpi.':the oints V A. ._ 3 L3 of 1-eferenee. has preséiii.ed._vt:E»1i3s p'ei_1ii()'n,
2. fI,'17£"5:":': 'p()ifi.:is the order dated
13.C)V6.ZOOVCi»V_{)i' Gfflernnierit, to the Industrial Tribvunaii foradjL1.di.e£5z'%..ifig.Linder Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, ioif shof-:,_'I'::§ A_c}':;_f. are foilows:
'V if; 18 i.h.r_:eiaziageinerit of KSRTC Kolar Division jusi,iI'ied in impossing the following 1 on U1E:Ei1' worknian Sri. _F"<.'Ré1:é'i1?i.z1krislma. (?m'":c1u(7i()1'. K.C.N0.94, Kolar .. I'}_e}30'i':
1} UncferOrC1erNO.KS'3':K.D:Offenee:2575189 «I306 ckaieci 20.2.1990. e,risui1'1g annual i1'1c1'emer1i. of w(.)1'kIi'iam has been M -3- postponed for one year without C'tH'a'1":.i--}2_1"i:I"§_«-'"_€ ,_ A' 2 effect:
under Order No.Ks'r;KD;orfegikie;"2égo;'s9'_gA.V _ 2021 dated 18.5J_1990..2nf;pay"gag? '»x:h¢_ workman was r¢dt.:(r€cixby'-iwo i11(:';f¢n";e:11,a-1 séages for £1 ot'.V':3.__y(az,nV*$: cunmiative K .
Under NI.'5. KS'I": 1§;{3;O§»Ie11(:c2:viA2é3~9 1 2 5817 1 of pay of t4h'ré'\?v01'k;'rié{r1'E)L\,' .i_I1{:rez1'1é'I11e1l stage for 31wolgiezufsé'--wiiihoui. _C{.1I}"1!.1VVi'b';'é.:i'V'€ effect: fiflé{1iS'h.fE]€f'ti'."OF"1?k,{i_i;hh.§)1(;ii1'ig of two annual AV'Viincréfinvants "pe1'niéi'1"1€ntly Le. co--iem1inus per Ordor No.KST:KD:
' . Oi-i's>:i(>r§:4_1'5..-_ 91/1278292 dated 3.3.1992: No.KS'I':KD:OE'ibI1ce:1748:92- 5f}34€:.92«'daEed }O.6.i992, ensuing annual ,,,..i¢nC1'en1€m. has been posiponed for two :y(3.:-11's w1'1.h()Lti' (runmlaiiive effect 'UI1d€'I' Order No.KST:KI):OI'fbn<?e:2836:93: 244993 dated 24.11.1993, ensuing annual incremeni: has been post:pcn1ed for one year without. (21iI}}1.11E1'i.i\-"C effe(:f:: Under Order No.KST:K{):O['IE3z1(:e:3758:92: 2205:1133 dated 1.3/4.93. e'nsL1ing annual incr€:ment' has been postponed for two years V»-fihout Cl,1I}'1Li13.ii\-'£3 elTe(7£: .4"
8} Under Order N0.KST:KI):Ofibncez290-3_&f32> f 20:32:93 dated 22.2/3.1993.
ar11'1uz-1] iflC}'€E]}€I11 I'1a1__9.»b.e_er} {JOSEi5C}fiv¢'d "f.(3'i'.V three years with0L1I'. t:,;11}11.;1].2:{ix'é99Cfl7§§C{..:
9) Under Orcier Np._Ks'1':ia;.9'50t1mc:¢;351v2':99={'*~ V' 219993 dz-x_fi-:d..__ ._1 .3/#1:. 1__99.'3__' é;{1Vé=';;am;«,E;
arm ual i1_1(tre:1'1e11__t__: T1219 *b_¢e11 pc>9fi:§j01';Véci for two i.11(:.i_i:.i f:1._g1«i.9't~:.g;e .10) Under O1*<:'ié:1f.'Nc§;'vE4{§3TI':K{§':'O}Tt§11{re:3033m93w IV1 . ensuirlg ?_:ga1'1&::3'.'9L§1jz_f?.i .iV1:'1c3r€,;1'V1V.e1'1_1:_ 11.219'bitch postponed {qr _ \:,;w"'i:€.i'¥_('V)..L1'{..:C?Li'iI}{I1EfiiV€ effe('.t:
""" H V I KD:Of'fe.nCe:338:94« ' 8.6. 1994, en.suing atmuai ' . been postponed for three xxA*.i't119"L:1i ctumL1}a1.ive effect:
912] Ljfi("lv81f..C)1'dC1' N0.KSTZKDIOff{":I"1(T€I3120294"
*~,7'_75:9S daE':.eci 3.2.1995. en.9L1ing annual fl"i.I:'~.:'(TI'€i'1}€r1141 has been p0s1.p0r1ed for one ":;'ye2-1r Witihoui. ('u1'1111Iat.ive effecrlz .13) Under O1*d{;*.r N0.E{ST:KD:OiTenc7c:4O39:95- 238596 dated 26.3.1996. reduc1,i0n of pay by one in(*r<::menI.ai stage: for one yezu' wiih()u1 (*.umulaA.iW3 effectfz
14) Under Order No.KST:KD:Ot"fen(:e:1563:96- 758€~:9£3 dz-med E"/'.1O.}9964 1'<':'.dL1(."Ei()I'1 of M Ago
22) Under Order No.KS'I': 0' 140299 dated 10.3.1999. redue1.'i7o__n by one in<:re1"neni. ior__thwree" it The petitioner, on notice, V11a\ring:__ on 15.12.2000 alleging .2vtt1'>resaVi_"d of punishment are the that it is in vioiation of t.he001Ve1-fit this Court in ANKAPPA; 3 OF K.S.R.T.C. the respondent.-Road igtsweountei" dt. 3.6.2003 inter aha refererice was liable to be re§jet::ted and iaehes.
3..1"«.._Indisput',21b1y the orders imposing minor ._ were not preceded by 21. domestic enquiry .e1"i'1d"---Vth£::i*'efore. the industrial '"£'ri'ouna1 permitted the " :r.espo"ndent',--Roaci 'i'ransport. Corporatiion to adduce exliiclenoe on the merits of the charges. whence 10 witnesses were €?X.':'.1.I11i£1€d. 105 documents were i in: 19% K:\R 395;: 5 I4 ,.,»* .7, exhibited for the 1*e.sponde.nr-Co1*porat.ion';""'v§il1.i_l'e:~7 ;__t.ne petitioner was examined as WW4 and»8E§i~.,d'(-->eL1.meni--s were exhibited. The E11d1.1'stri.al,f'Il'IiibL1n-al"if-ahazqing considered the material *-on record. iV'd'ia't?vu,SVse_r:l the! evidence both oral in great.
elaboration. held against the petitioner \v§:re,___pr(nIeti' imposing minor the Labour did not place relevant.
mat,erial'l' legal evidence over satisl'aet'oVry». 'f(;i%".."'t:11e inordinate delay for referring Epointis of"1*e.fer'ence for adjudication. Further, the V :T'1'rib1.1nal ac:cept.ed the plea of the respondent. t' that it:Ri;r_a.:'i?. unable to produce the records relating to punvishnzerit. in the liglit: of the circular not to maintain ~._>re'g::ords beyond five years. held that the reference strffered from delay and laehes. The Industrial Tribunal followed the dictum in Executive Engineer, PWI3.
let ,5;
Bidar ---v~ K.S.SHARASCHANI)RA'i reference byline award ilnptiggiied.
4. The learned counsel fd-.r t_1_i'e ..f)et.iiit.i<)ner é::$'r1t:é%i.1_ds that had the lndt1stri_ai~.t.. '1'ribtin:--.1]_ opportunity. the pe__t,itioner...t$§fe:ui'd._.nheiife'«n,iaeet:l relevant material, more filed before the proceedings pursuant" V. of reference.
This ct0nteri.'t.ion}.Virrthe fae.~t.s and eireurnstanees of the (r'r1se:g rzmre. 'zi;3;)i*t);ji'ia'tV;:]y in the light of ample opp()rtt,i111it.ies 'e_xtie_1ide.d to the petitioner to place all r,e_1etrant. l11él['fi3l'lE1l and the petitioner examined as WW-1. ' Ejfirrodueed 8éWCl()('.LllT1CI1}{.S._ it Cannot. but be held that V VreasrjVi'1.abiVee~.Q}:;p0rtunit.y was extended to the pet.it.i0ne1' befoife 'the. Industrial 'i"ribuna1. The respondent. having t.a}.i'er1":.a specific st.and 1;hat. the refere1'1ee suffers from V delay and latches set' out in the counter statement, the pe.t:itioner had kliowiedge of the same and cannot: be ° HR 2007 K.»-XR am -9- permitted to feign ignorance while in\«'()kfIr1g;' _,\;s}rit. jL1risclieti0r1 under Article 227 of the C0I1..s;rvii'tJ.j;ie1:1'. ._
5. I1'1dispu1:ab1y the points to 12 relate to orders 'irn'ppsir1gv.rninor'p.1,m15h;h1ents0' during the year 1990 to 1V9.9T:E3.,_\vhi1e .rrh«e:erg1ers 11»13~ 22 are passed duririg The reference by the St:at.e_Cgxreljlifiehi 2000. In the absence, Of"reiev'eI1't...}:<1é1t..e1'i-£11fever sufficierlt cause and Valid andji1vs€'.1i'ié1ble4'reasons for the inordirzate delay in initiating g?()11eili'2ii.-20n--.__p':*C3ceedings, atflleast: in l'€Sp€('.'{. of orriere of up-:1"riis'i1n1x<=?11r; at S1. No.1 110 18, upto the year 0bser{rz1t.i()11s of the Apex Court in Asst. _'Exé(:r.iii§e.x.0'x'«Engineer -v-- Shivalingai-3, in the (Vii-rerr.__rrist.air1ces is apposite:
in Case where there .21 serious di.spu"re or doubt in such 1'e1ati0nship and records of the employer become reie\='ar1t,. the long delay ' 2:>e3m:; 1:1 .1< mu ~§ 0 would come in the way of {11E1lI1't€I1211"i(_t'g'ii""E}f:E.lflé same. in such (',iI'€.ELEI'11S'(,E111(?f3S, t.oNr_1ial;e,ftfl1e'131 T' available to the Labour Cotiri;-or irhe _.E.iilCi~u_:<tli*ia.'l Tribunal to eidjtiditéate ~the'~_ appropriately will beV'im_;3ossio_le'. The"sfituVat.io§n of that nature would render thewrrlairn to have become stale". V l l The Division Benoh__"of_ *::~Ql1'I5Ii;._ in North West Karnatakaf Road .Txair1?.§pdft._V'Corporation -v-- Abdul Salarn [DB}'¥,l;»l1aVitig_éo_1'1sid'erei;lthe reported opinion of the Ape::--Cot1.rt.__'that;v_th..e_ unexplained delay of over eight years i.l1el'p21"1't'oi""tl1e workman in approaching the c;;;u'rt.,. held} did 11ot_§usii'fy entertaining a stale dispute.
_VA€», -.:"*~--Or1 the merit of the charges. on close 2 exan'i'inai:..io'i1lof the award impugned discloses that the vxrholerppediliicte of the ease put forth by the petitioner is A 1:";-uuilt. upon non-e.xisting foundation and argument.s that stem from fallactious asst.1n1ptio11s. The petiitioner '3 2{}('J'2e E 3; K3113 ...I.:1§'%2 (£315)
4.:
withoui plactiiig relevam material before .'_1n__c'j1i'1.i;':?~,t'i'i5c'1l_ 'I"1'ibunal which rnighi, throw light L_1.pQ4I_'"i._r;a.§ii:{ei*s"' in question sought" to obtain 21 (_ieei»s_i0'r_j2 in abs_eng_eA'of 7 material and infomiatiozi .whieh_ Va prc;»p'ei<1y infoirnede, decision requires. On of the material on record, xx"/veil merited. fully justifiedgind z{iiVVdV'»ee--.ri'C1usions are not shown in law in order or subsiani;i;;t'e_d;"A:jr:r).are "(J11 evidence or vitiated on aitermxii. -.ap"p_roaeh. to call for a different eenelliééien with the Verdict in exercise of e:{1;ra()'rdiI1a'ry*-Vwifii:'jurisdiction under Aiiiele 227 of the _v'l:'.Q11Sfi"IZlJtjC5"i1_'Of India. 'l'i3."e writ. petition is, aectordirigly re_jeei.ed. SdI~¥ 'judge In.