Kerala High Court
Alkem Laboratories Limited vs State Of Kerala on 7 April, 2021
Author: Anil K.Narendran
Bench: Anil K.Narendran
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
PRESENT
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE ANIL K.NARENDRAN
WEDNESDAY, THE 07TH DAY OF APRIL 2021 / 17TH CHAITHRA,
1943
WP(C).No.7444 OF 2021(E)
PETITIONER :
ALKEM LABORATORIES LIMITED,
REGD. OFF. ALKEM HOUSE, SENAPATI BAPAT MARG,
LOWER PAREL (WEST), MUMBAI-400013, REPRESENTED
BY ITS DEPUTY GENERAL MANAGER-HR- MR. ATUL C
PARAB.
BY ADVS.
SRI.THOMAS J.ANAKKALLUNKAL
SRI.P.BENNY THOMAS
SHRI.ABEL TOM BENNY
SMT.MARIA PAUL
RESPONDENTS:
1 STATE OF KERALA,
REPRESENTED BY HOME SECRETARY, SECRETARIAT,
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM-695001.
2 DISTRICT POLICE CHIEF,
RAMAVARMAPURAM ROAD, PALLIMOOLA, MANNUMKAD,
RAMAVARMAPURAM, THRISSUR-680631.
3 THE STATION HOUSE OFFICER,
NEDUPUZHA POLICE STATION, KOORKENCHERY,
THRISSUR-680007.
4 THE STATION HOUSE OFFICER,
TOWN EAST POLICE STATION, PATTALAM ROAD,
SAKTHAN THAMPURAN NAGAR, VELIYANNUR, THRISSUR-
680001.
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WP(C).No.7444 OF 2021(E)
5 THE STATION HOUSE OFFICER,
WADAKKANCHERY POLICE STATION, WADAKKANCHERY
-680582.
6 THE STATION HOUSE OFFICER,
TOWN WEST POLICE STATION, OUTPOST ROAD,
KALYAN NAGAR, AYYANTHOLE, THRISSUR-680003.
7 THE STATION HOUSE OFFICER,
CHALAKUDY POLICE STATION, NEAR CHALAKUDY
CHURCH, THRISSUR DISTRICT, CHALAKUDY-680307.
8 KERALA MEDICAL AND SALES REPRESENTATIVE
ASSOCIATION (KMSRA),
BTR BHAWAN, CEMENTERY JUNCTION, CHITTOOR
ROAD, ERNAKULAM-682018, REPRESENTED BY ITS
GENERAL SECRETARY MR. MOHAN C. NAIR.
R1 TO R7 BY SRI SUNIL NATH N.B- GOVERNMENT
PLEADER
R8 BY SRI S.KRISHNAMOORTHY STANDING COUNSEL
THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR
ADMISSION ON 07.04.2021, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY
DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:
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WP(C).No.7444 OF 2021(E)
JUDGMENT
The petitioner has filed this writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, seeking a writ of mandamus commanding respondents 2 to 7 to afford adequate and effective protection for smooth functioning of the business activities of the petitioner Company and to ensure peaceful working atmosphere for the Managers of the petitioner Company; and adequate protection for the property/products of the petitioner Company without any disturbance, hindrance, obstruction or threats from the 8 th respondent and its members or any other person/persons on their behalf. The petitioner has also sought for a direction to respondents 2 to 7 to act on the complaints submitted by the petitioner Company and to take appropriate action against the 8th respondent and their members whenever the illegal and unlawful activities committed by them are reported to respondents 2 to 7 and also to ensure that the petitioner carries on its business activities without any disturbance or obstruction by the 8 th respondent, its members or any person on their behalf. In the writ petition, it is alleged that seeking withdrawal of the order of transfer of Sri.K.V.Krishna Kumar and others and also -4- WP(C).No.7444 OF 2021(E) withdrawal of the order of termination of other medical representatives, the 8th respondent association and its members are obstructing the Managers of the petitioner Company from performing their field visits. On various occasions, when the Managers visited hospitals, the members of the 8th respondent association appeared there in large numbers and abused them and threatened them with dire consequences. In such circumstances, the petitioner submitted Ext.P2 complaint dated 02.03.2021 before the 3 rd respondent Station House Officer, Ext.P4 complaint dated 02.03.2021 before the 4th respondent Station House Officer, Ext.P6 complaint dated 03.03.2021 before the 5 th respondent Station House Officer, Ext.P8 complaint dated 04.03.2021 before the 6th respondent Station House Officer, Ext.P10 complaint dated 05.03.2021 before the 3 rd respondent Station House Officer and Ext.P12 complaint dated 10.03.2021 before the 7th respondent Station House Officer seeking police protection and thereafter, moved this writ petition before this Court seeking the aforesaid reliefs.
2. On 23.03.2021, when this writ petition came up for admission, the learned Government Pleader took notice on -5- WP(C).No.7444 OF 2021(E) admission for respondents 1 to 7. Urgent notice on admission by special messenger was ordered to the 8 th respondent, returnable by 25.03.2021.
3. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner, the learned Government Pleader appearing for respondents 1 to 7 and also the learned counsel for the 8th respondent.
4. The Kerala Police Act, 2011 is enacted to consolidate and amend the law relating to the establishment, regulation, powers and duties of the Police Force in the State of Kerala and for matters connected therewith and incidental thereto. Chapter II of the Act deals with duties and functions of Police. Section 3 of the Act deals with general duties of Police. As per Section 3, the Police, as a service functioning category among the people as part of the administrative system shall, subject to the Constitution of India and the laws enacted thereunder, strive in accordance with the law, to ensure that all persons enjoy the freedoms and rights available under the law by ensuring peace and order, integrity of the nation, security of the State and protection of human rights. Section 4 of the Act deals with functions of Police. As per Section 4, the Police Officers shall, subject to the -6- WP(C).No.7444 OF 2021(E) provisions of the Act, perform the functions enumerated in clauses (a) to (s) of Section 4. As per clause (a), the Police Officers shall enforce the law impartially; and as per clause
(b), the Police Officers shall protect the life, liberty, property, human rights and dignity of all persons in accordance with the law.
5. Lord Denning in 'The Due Process of law' [First Indian Reprint 1993, Page 102] has described the role of the Police thus;
"In safeguarding our freedoms, the police play vital role. Society for its defence needs a well-led, well- trained and well-disciplined force or police whom it can trust, and enough of them to be able to prevent crime before it happens, or if it does happen, to detect it and bring the accused to justice.
The police, of course, must act properly. They must obey the rules of right conduct. They must not extort confessions by threats or promises. They must not search a man's house without authority. They must not use more force than the occasion warrants."
6. In Manohar Lal Sharma v. Principal Secretary [(2014) 2 SCC 532] the Apex Court held that, one of the responsibilities of the police is protection of life, liberty and property of citizens. The investigation of offences is one of the -7- WP(C).No.7444 OF 2021(E) important duties the police has to perform. The aim of investigation is ultimately to search for truth and bring the offender to the book. The Apex Court reiterated the said principle in Ankush Maruti Shinde v. State of Maharashtra [(2019) 15 SCC 470].
7. In Gujarat Steel Tubes Ltd. Vs. Gujarat Steel Tubes Mazdoor Sabha [(1980) 2 SCC 593] the Apex Court held that, the right to unionise, the right to strike as part of collective bargaining and subject to the legality and humanity of the situation, the right of the weaker group viz. labour, to pressure the stronger party viz. capital, to negotiate and render justice, are processes recognised by industrial jurisprudence and supported by Social Justice. While society itself, in its basic needs of existence, may not be held to ransom in the name of the right to bargain and strikers must obey civilised norms in the battle and not be vulgar or violent hoodlums industry, represented by intransigent Managements, may well be made to reel into reason by the strike weapon and cannot then sequeal or wail and complain of loss of profits or other ill-effects but must negotiate or get a reference made. The broad basis is that workers are weaker although -8- WP(C).No.7444 OF 2021(E) they are the producers and their struggle to better their lot has the sanction of the rule of law. Unions and strikers are no more conspiracies than professions and political parties, are, and being far weaker, need succour. Part IV of the Constitution, read with Article 19, sows the seed of this burgeoning jurisprudence. The Gandhian quote at the beginning of the judgment [Para.5 @ Page 603 SCC] sets the tone of economic equity in industry. Of course, adventurist, extremist, extraneously inspired and puerile strike, absurdly insane persistence and violent or scorched earth policies boomerang and are anathema for the law. Within these parameters the right to strike is integral to collective bargaining.
8. The learned counsel for the 8th respondent would point out certain disputes in connection with termination of service of two medical representatives and transfer of three others, who are members of the 8 th respondent association. The learned counsel would submit that various other issues are also pending conciliation before the concerned District Labour Officer. The petitioner Management has not chosen to attend the conciliation proceedings. The learned counsel would -9- WP(C).No.7444 OF 2021(E) submit further that the members of the 8th respondent association have absolutely no intention to cause any threat or obstruction to the field visit of the Managers of the petitioner Company and they have no intention to take law into their own hands.
9. The learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that the Management has already submitted written submission before the concerned District Labour Officer, raising appropriate legal and factual contentions and that, the Management shall co-operate with the conciliation proceedings.
10. The learned Government Pleader would submit that, in case there is any threat to law and order, in connection with any protest/agitation made by the members of the 8th respondent association, respondents 3 to 7 Station House Officers shall render necessary police protection.
Having considered the pleadings and materials on record and also the submissions made by the learned counsel on both sides, this writ petition is disposed of with the following directions;
i) Respondents 3 to 7 Station House Officers shall take -10- WP(C).No.7444 OF 2021(E) necessary steps to ensure that there is no threat to law and order, in connection with any protest/agitation made by the members of the 8th respondent association.
ii) In case there is any threat to the life of the Managers, employees, etc. of the petitioner Company or any obstruction whatsoever to the field visits and other activities undertaken by them, from the side of the members of the 8 th respondent association, the petitioner shall move respondents 3 to 7 Station House Officers, with a proper request for police protection.
iii) In case any such request for Police protection is made by the petitioner, respondents 3 to 7 shall take necessary action on that request, without any delay, taking note of the statutory provisions referred to hereinbefore and also the law laid down in the decisions referred to supra.
iv) The above directions are subject to the condition that the petitioner Management shall co-operate with the conciliation proceedings pending before the concerned District Labour Officer. Any contention raised by the petitioner Management as to maintainability of such proceedings shall be dealt with appropriately by the concerned District Labour Officer.
v) This judgment will not stand in the way of the members of the 8th respondent association staging any protest/agitation, in a democratic manner, without causing any obstruction whatsoever, to the discharge of official duties by the Managers and other employees of the petitioner Company.
-11-WP(C).No.7444 OF 2021(E) The learned Government Pleader shall communicate the outcome of this writ petition to the respondents 3 to 7 Station House Officers today itself.
Sd/-
ANIL K.NARENDRAN, JUDGE AV/8/4 -12- WP(C).No.7444 OF 2021(E) APPENDIX PETITIONER'S/S EXHIBITS:
EXHIBIT P1 TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER DATED
30/10/2015 IN WPC NO.32993/2015.
EXHIBIT P2 TRUE COPY OF THE POLICE COMPLAINT
FILED WITH THE 3RD RESPONDENT DATED
02/03/2021.
EXHIBIT P3 A TRUE COPY OF THE RECEIPT
ACKNOWLEDGING EXHIBIT P2.
EXHIBIT P4 TRUE COPY OF THE POLICE COMPLAINT
DATED 02/03/2021 FILED WITH THE 4TH
RESPONDENT.
EXHIBIT P5 A TRUE COPY OF THE RECEIPT
ACKNOWLEDGING EXHIBIT P4.
EXHIBIT P6 TRUE COPY OF THE POLICE COMPLAINT
DATED 03/03/2021 IS FILED WITH THE 5TH
RESPONDENT.
EXHIBIT P7 TRUE COPY OF THE RECEIPT ACKNOWLEDGING
EXHIBIT P6.
EXHIBIT P8 TRUE COPY OF THE POLICE COMPLAINT
DATED 04/03/2021 FILED WITH THE 6TH
RESPONDENT.
EXHIBIT P9 TRUE COPY OF THE RECEIPT ACKNOWLEDGING
EXHIBIT P8.
EXHIBIT P10 TRUE COPY OF THE POLICE COMPLAINT
DATED 05/03/2021 FILED WITH THE 3RD
RESPONDENT.
EXHIBIT P11 TRUE COPY OF THE RECEIPT ACKNOWLEDGING
EXHIBIT P10.
EXHIBIT P12 TRUE COPY OF THE POLICE COMPLAINT
DATED 10/03/2021 FILED WITH THE 7TH
RESPONDENT.
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WP(C).No.7444 OF 2021(E)
EXHIBIT P13 TRUE COPY OF THE RECEIPT ACKNOWLEDGING
EXHIBIT P12.
EXHIBIT P14 TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER DATED
15/02/2020 IN WPC 29084/2020.
EXHIBIT P15 TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER DATED
08/12/2020 IN WPC NO.27186/2020.
EXHIBIT P16 TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER DATED
09/12/2020 IN WPC NO.27377/2020.
EXHIBIT P17 TRUE COPY OF THE ORDER DATED
15/12/2020 IN WPC NO.27759/2020.