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[Cites 7, Cited by 0]

Delhi District Court

Sh. Satya Prakash Singh vs M/S. Ranjeet Brothers Taxi Services on 5 September, 2017

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

LIR No.670/17.
In the matter of :­

Sh. Satya Prakash Singh,
Aged 46 years S/o Sh. Lal Singh
R/o H. No. K­266, Mangolpuri, Delhi­110083.
C/o Delhi Pradesh General Mazdoor Kalyan Morcha,
Chamber No. K­32, Tis Hazari Court, Delhi­54.
                                                  .............Workman
                             Versus

M/s. Ranjeet Brothers Taxi Services, 
Chamber No. 105­6/79, WEA, Gurudwara Road,
Karol Bagh, New Delhi­110005.
                                        ..............Management

DATE OF INSTITUTION           :                                  14.03.2017.
DATE ON WHICH AWARD RESERVED  :                                  18.08.2017.
DATE ON WHICH AWARD PASSED    :                                  05.09.2017.

A W A R D :­
1.               Vide Order No. F.24(111)/17/Ref./CD/Lab/ 518 dated
10.03.2017, issued by   Government of NCT of Delhi, a reference
was sent to this Court with the following terms:­
                 "Whether the   workman Sh. Satya Prakash
                 Singh S/o Sh Lal Singh has abandoned the
                 job   on   his   own   or   his   services   have   been


LIR No.670/17.                                                                 1/23
                  terminated illegally and / or unjustifiably by
                 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 joined the management
as Driver on 06.03.2005 at the last drawn salary of Rs.15,000/­ per
month.   He   was   forced   to   work   with   other   branch   of   the
management   by   the   name   of   M/s.   R.B.T.S.   Travels   Pvt.   Ltd.
Management  did not provide him appointment letter,  attendance
card,   leave   book,   pay   slip,   casual   leave,   bonus   and   overtime
payments   etc.     When   he   demanded   those   facilities   orally,   the
management   got   enraged   and  started  harassing   by  adopting   anti
labour practice.   When his mother became ill, he insisted for ESI
card and only then, ESI facility was extended on 01.12.2013.  His
signatures   were   obtained   by   the   management   on  blank   papers,
vouchers and registers and his service was terminated on 28.06.16
threatening that if he was again seen in that vicinity, he would be
implicated   in   false   case.     Earned   wages   from   01.01.2016   to
27.06.16 were also withheld.  Demand notice sent to management
on 15.07.16 was  not  replied  satisfactorily.    He had filed a  case
before Conciliation Officer where the management had appeared
and had undertaken on 07.08.16 that it was ready to take him back
on   duty.   Accordingly,   he   appeared   before   the   management   on


LIR No.670/17.                                                           2/23
 08.08.16  and he was allowed to do duty.  But in the evening, his
signatures were forcibly obtained on full and final papers by paying
him only Rs.6,200/­ despite the fact that he was working with it for
last 12 years.  He is jobless since termination.


3.               Written   statement   is   to   the   effect   that   claimant   had
joined it only on 01.03.13 at a salary of Rs.11,000/­ per month and
not on 08.03.2005.   He was habitual absentee and had done duty
not   more   than   15   days   in   May,   2015.   He   started   absenting
unauthorizedly regularly w.e.f. 31.08.15 and did not report even
after   letter   dated   19.06.16.     Pursuant   to   the   instructions   of   the
Conciliation   Officer,   the   claimant   had   reported   for   duty   on
08.08.16   and   had   requested   for   full   and   final   settlement   on   the
ground that he was employed with some other employer and hence,
he was paid a sum of Rs.6,200/­ as full and final amount.  He again
appeared  on   09.08.16  for   job   saying     that   his   service   had   been
terminated by erstwhile employer.   He was again taken back on
duty but did not respond thereafter.     


4.               Following issues were framed 19.04.17:­
           1. Whether   claimant   himself   left   the   job   by   remaining
                 unauthorizedly absent  w.e.f. 31.08.15? OPM
           2. As per terms of reference.



LIR No.670/17.                                                                  3/23
            3. Relief. 


5.               In order to substantiate the case, the claimant tendered
his affidavit in evidence as Ex. WW1/A mentioning all the facts
stated   in   the   statement   of   claim.     He   relied   upon   following
documents :­
       1.  Ex. WW1/1 is demand notice dated 15.07.2016.
       2.  Ex. WW1/2 is speed post receipt dated 15.07.2016.
       3.  Ex. WW1/3 is complaint made before Police                       
            Commissioner/concerned SHO.
       4.  Ex.WW1/4 and Ex. WW1/5 are the postal receipts. 
       5. Ex.WW1/6 is complaint made before Assistant Labour  
            Commissioner.
          6. Ex.WW1/7 dated 08.08.2016 is receipt of Rs. 6200/­
              issued by management.
       7. Ex.WW1/8 is complaint dated 09.08.2016 made before  
            police department.
       8.  Ex.WW1/9 to Ex. WW/12 are the post receipts dated 
            09.08.2016 vide which complaints were sent to SHO, 
            Joint CP, ALC and commissioner.
       9.  Ex.WW1/13 is Labour Inspector report dated 10.10.2016.
       10.Ex.WW1/14 (two pages) is green card issued by 
            management to its vehicle No. DL­1VK­8107 driven by 
            claimant whenever  he went beyond Delhi. 
       11. Ex.WW1/15 is a challan dated 18.02.2010 vide which  
             vehicle No. DL­1VB­3990 was challaned by Delhi 
             Traffic Police. 


LIR No.670/17.                                                           4/23
        12. Ex.WW1/16 is statement of claimant before Conciliation
              Officer. 
       13. Mark W1 is receipt issued by the management vide        
             which it had given on rent its Tavera car to place driven 
              by claimant.
       14. Mark W2 is receipt issued by the management vide 
            which it had given on rent its Tavera car to place driven 
             by claimant. 
       15. Mark W3 is receipt issued by the management vide 
            which  it had given on rent its Tavera car to place driven 
             by claimant. 
       16. Mark W4 is receipt issued by the management vide 
             which it had given on rent its Tavera car to place driven
             by claimant.
       17. Mark W5 is receipt issued by the management vide
            which it had given on rent its Tavera car to place driven 
             by claimant.
       18. Mark W6 is receipt issued by the management vide 
            which it had given on rent its Tavera car to place driven 
             by claimant.
       19. Mark W7 is receipt issued by the management vide 
            which it had given on rent its Tavera car to place driven 
             by claimant.
       20. Mark W8 is receipt issued by the management vide 
            which it had given on rent its Tavera car to place driven 
             by claimant.
       21. Mark W9 is receipt issued by the management vide 
            which it had given on rent its Tavera car to place driven 
             by claimant. 



LIR No.670/17.                                                     5/23
 6.               The management examined three witnesses.
                 MW1   S.K   .Malhotra   is   authorized   representative   of
management.  He repeated the contents of written statement.  
                 MW2   Kunwar   Manoj   Singh,   Assistant   Labour
Commissioner   deposed   that   conciliation   proceedings   were   held
before   him.     On   the   first   date,   the   management   had   shown
willingness to take claimant back duty and hence, the claimant was
directed by him to join duty on 08.08.16.  He was also interested in
joining   duty.     The   matter   was   adjourned   to   22.08.16   for
compliance.  He next deposed that the claimant came to him  in the
person before 22.08.16 and told that he was not taken on duty and
that management had given him only Rs.6,200/­ in the name of full
and   final   settlement.     He   next   deposed     that   none   of   the   party
appeared   before   him   on   22.08.16.     He   adjourned   the   matter   to
07.09.16.  The matter could not be resolved and hence  he reported
the   case   to   the   Deputy   Labour   Commissioner,   who   sent   the
reference.  
                 MW3   Sh.   Ranjeet   Singh   proprietor   of   management
deposed that management used to maintain record of its employees
like   attendance   register,   leave   register,   wages   register,     bonus
register etc, but the same was missing and due to that reason, he
was not able to produce the same in the Court.   He next deposed
that   he   received   a   call   from   Nangloi   Metro   Station   Police   on


LIR No.670/17.                                                                 6/23
 19.07.17   that   some   documents   pertaining   to   his   company   were
lying in the premises of Paschim Vihar East Metro Station and that
the   same   may   be   collected   against   receipt.     He   alongwith   his
employee / MW1 went there.   Those documents belonged to the
management and hence, he took delivery of the same vide receipt
Ex. MW3/2.  He deposed that the collected documents are log book
Ex. MW3/3, management's blank vouchers Ex. MW3/4 and PIN of
debit   card   of   claimant   Ex.   MW3/5.     He   relied   upon   following
documents :­
     1. Ex.   MW3/1   (colly.   54   pages)   is   computer   generated   ESI
        contribution   history   from   November,   2013   to   September,
        2015.
     2. Ex. MW3/2   is receiving letter from Udyog Nagar Nangloi
        Metro Police Station dated 19.07.17.
     3. Ex. MW3/3 (colly. 44 pages) is log book / day book register.

     4. Ex.   MW3/4   (colly.   25   pages)   are   blank   duty   vouchers   of
        management. 
     5. Ex. MW3/5  is envelope of Indian Overseas Bank and letter
        containing PIN of claimant. 
     6. Ex.   MW3/6   is   certificate   under   Section   65­B   of   Indian
        Evidence Act.             

                 Issue No. 1. 
7.               Ld. ARM argued that claimant was habitual absentee.
He   had   not   worked   more   than   15   days   in   May,   2015.     From
31.08.15 onwards,   he started absenting without permission   and

LIR No.670/17.                                                             7/23
 did not resume duty despite sending of letter dated 19.06.16 by the
management.     He   further   argued   that   management   could   not
produce the documents  ordered by this Court as the same were
stolen.     He   relied   upon   the   documents   Ex.MW3/2,   Ex.MW3/3,
Ex.MW3/4   and   Ex.MW3/5   collected   by   MW3   from   the   Police
Station of Nangloi Metro Station.  He submitted that the documents
found by the Police at Metro Station included the PIN of debit card
of claimant.   Finding of PIN of claimant's debit card with other
documents of the management shows that it was claimant who had
stolen the documents.  It becomes clear from log book Ex. MW3/3
that the same was prepared by the claimant in his own handwriting
and it further proves that the claimant had left the job on 31.08.15
as the last entry in log book is of 31.08.15.
                 Ld. ARW replied that despite clear direction by this
Court vide order dated 26.05.17, the management has not placed on
record   attendance   and   wages   register   of   the   claimant   from
06.03.2005   to   28.02.13   and   due   to   non­production   of   those
documents, it has failed to prove that the claimant had abandoned
the job on 31.08.15.  No letter was even sent by management for
resumption of duty.


8.               The management has taken  a specific plea in written
statement  that claimant had started absenting unauthorizedly w.e.f.


LIR No.670/17.                                                       8/23
 31.08.15 and did not respond despite letter dated 19.06.16.  It did
not place on record copy of that letter. Even if it is presumed that
letter dated 19.06.16 was   sent to the claimant for resumption of
duty,     sending   of   that   letter   after   10   months   from   the   date   of
absence, shows that management came into motion only when the
claimant   had   started   making   complaints   against   it.     The
management   could   have   proved   absence   of   the   claimant   w.e.f.
31.08.15 by placing on record attendance and wage register of its
employees   as   ordered   by   this   Court  vide   order   dated   26.05.17.
Despite clear directions, the management did  not place on record
those   documents.     Rather,   MW3   took   plea   in   his   affidavit   in
evidence that the same were stolen.  The management did not place
on record any DD or FIR to the effect that the documents were
stolen.  In round­about way, the management tried to take plea that
the documents were stolen by the claimant himself because his own
PIN   of   debit   card   was   handed   over   to   MW3   by   PS   Nangloi
alongwith   documents   like   log   book   and   blank   vouchers   of   the
management.     The   management   had   collected   those   documents
from PS Nangloi vide receipt Ex. MW3/2 which is bearing seal of
the   police   station.     Finding   of   PIN   of   debit   card   of   claimant
alongwith documents of the management, at the most, prove the
fact   that   it   was   one   and   the   same   person   who   had   left   the
documents of the management PIN of  debit card of  claimant at


LIR No.670/17.                                                                  9/23
 Paschim Vihar (East) Metro Station.  That fact does not prove that
it was claimant who had stolen the documents of the management.
Had that been the conclusion, the police of  PS Nangloi would have
definitely registered  theft FIR against claimant.
                 It is the plea of the management that claimant used to
maintain log book Ex. MW3/3 and its last entry is dated 31.08.15
and that  entry proves that claimant last worked with it only till
31.08.15.  But  ARM is totally wrong because the last page of Ex.
MW3/3 shows that the last entry is of 25.07.15 and not of 31.08.15.
The log book does not prove that the claimant had lastly worked
with the management on 31.08.15.  Moreover, the management did
not examine any handwriting expert etc. to prove that log book Ex.
MW3/3 was in the handwriting of the claimant.  The management
did not move any application for re­summoning the claimant for
cross examination on its documents Ex. MW3/3 and Ex. MW3/4.
Due to these reasons, the management has failed to prove that the
log book Ex. MW3/3 is in the handwriting of the claimant.  


9.               In view of above discussion, this issue is decided in
favour of claimant and against the management.


                 Issue No. 2.
10.              This issue comprises of two parts.  The first part is of


LIR No.670/17.                                                      10/23
 abandonment of  service and second is termination of service.  The
first part has been discussed in issue No. 1.


11.              Ld.   ARW   argued   that   the   management   was   not
providing   facilities   like   appointment   letter,   attendance   card,   pay
slip and bonus etc. which the claimant was demanding since long
orally.  Due to persistent demand, the management got enraged and
started   harassing   him.   His   signatures   were   obtained   on   blank
papers and service was terminated on 28.06.16.
                 Ld.   ARM   replied   that   service   of   the   claimant   was
never   terminated   as   he   had   already   started   absenting
unauthorizedly w.e.f. 31.08.15 and did not respond despite letter
dated 19.06.16 for resumption of duty.   He next argued that the
management was ready before Conciliation Officer on 07.08.16 to
take   claimant   back   on   duty.   On   the   direction   of   Conciliation
Officer,   he   had   appeared   before   management   on   08.08.16   and
voluntarily settled the case fully and finally in Rs.6,200/­ saying
that he was employed somewhere else.   He next argued that the
claimant again appeared before the management on 09.08.16 for
job   saying   that   he   had   been   fired   by   the   erstwhile   employer.
Taking pity upon him, he was again taken back on job but he did
not respond thereafter.  
                 Ld.   ARW   replied   that   the   claimant   had   not   settled


LIR No.670/17.                                                              11/23
 fully and finally with the management on 08.08.16.  Rather, he had
done duty on that date and his signatures were obtained on  blank
papers by the management.  By that date, he had worked with the
management  for  more than 12 years and could not have settled
only   in   Rs.6,200/­.     As   his   signatures   were   obtained   on   blank
papers, he complained of that fact to MW2 before the scheduled
dated of 22.08.16.   He next argued that had he settled fully and
finally on 08.08.16, the management would not have issued him
appointment letter dated 08.08.16.   


12.              The first  plea of the management that there was no
occasion for it to terminate claimant's service on 28.06.16 as he had
abandoned the job on 31.08.15,     has already been found false in
issue No. 1.
                 It   is   the   admitted   position   of   both   parties   that   the
management   had   given   offer   to   claimant   before  Conciliation
Officer on 07.08.16 that it was ready to take him back on duty.  It
is also the admitted position that claimant had appeared before the
management on 08.08.16.  Thereafter, there are divergent versions.
Claimant's case is that his signatures were obtained on blank papers
of Rs.6200/­ and that is why he had complained to Conciliation
Officer   MW2   before   the   scheduled   date   of   22.08.16.
Management's   plea   is   that   he   had   fully   and   finally   settled   in


LIR No.670/17.                                                                   12/23
 Rs.6,200/­ and so, he is not entitled to any relief. 
                 Till   08.08.16,   the   claimant   had   worked   with   the
management for more than 12 years.  A workman of the experience
of   12   years   cannot   be   supposed   to   settle   with   employer   just   in
Rs.6,200/­.  He would have definitely taken more amount.  So, the
plea of the claimant that amount of Rs.6,200/­ was paid to him as
back wages, is quite true.  If he wanted only money, he would not
have accepted the offer of the management for assumption of duty
in the presence of Conciliation Officer on 07.08.16.  Even if, it is
presumed that he had settled on 08.08.16, there was no occasion for
the management to issue him appointment letter Ex.MW1/W2 on
the same day i.e. 08.08.16.   It is pertinent to mention that it is
mentioned in appointment letter Ex. MW1/W2 that management
had   reinstated   him   as   Driver   w.e.f.   08.08.16.     Issuance   of
appointment letter shows that management had obtained signatures
of the claimant on blank papers and thereafter converted one paper
into full and final settlement document Ex. WW1/7.  Had claimant
settled fully and finally on 08.08.16, he would not have returned to
the management for job on 09.08.16 as pleaded by management  in
written   statement.     He   would   not   have   complained   to   MW2,
Conciliation Officer, before the scheduled date of 22.08.16 that he
was not taken back on duty and that management had given him a
sum of Rs.6,200/­ in the name of full and final settlement whereas


LIR No.670/17.                                                                13/23
 that amount was only   for his back wages.  
                 It   is   the   consistent   stand   of   the   claimant   that
management had not issued him any notice and had not tendered
notice     and   compensation   before   terminating   his   service.
Termination   of   service   in   that   manner   is   totally   in   violation   of
Section 25­F of the Act.   So, this issue is decided in favour of the
claimant and against the management.


                 Issue No. 3.
13.              Both parties are dis­agreeing on the date of joining.
Claimant deposed that he had joined on 06.03.2005 whereas MW1
and MW3 deposed that he had joined only on 01.03.13 and ESI
facility was extended to him on 01.12.13.   In order to prove its
plea,   the   management   is   strongly   relying   upon   log   book   Ex.
MW3/3 about which it has already been held that management had
failed to prove that document. Entries in that document starts from
the date 01.12.13 and the last entry is dated 25.05.13.  On the other
hand, the claimant is heavily relying upon green card Ex. MW1/14,
challan chit issued by Delhi Police regarding vehicle No.DL­1VB­
3990  Ex. WW1/15 and receipts Mark W1 to W9.
                 The   green   card   Ex.   WW1/14   was   issued   by   the
Transport Authority of Rishikesh, Uttrakhand for vehicle No. DL­
1VA­8107.     The   claimant   did   not   place   on   record   copy   of


LIR No.670/17.                                                                14/23
 registration certificate of that vehicle to prove that it was owned by
the   management.     He   did   not   ask   MW1   and   MW3   in   cross
examination whether the vehicle was owned by the management or
not.  Similarly, he did not place on record any document to prove
that   the   vehicle   No.   DL­1VB­3990   reflected   in   challan   chit   is
owned by management.   The receipts from Mark W1 to W9 dated
20.12.2008,   17.12.2008,   19.12.2008,   18.12.2008,   13.01.2009,
03.01.2009,   04.01.2009,   06.01.2009   and   05.01.2009.   These
receipts   are   on   the   letter   heads   of     management   showing   that
Tavera Car bearing registration No. 5973   was given on rent by
management to SHO, Police Station Deshbandhu Gupta Road.  The
claimant did not ask MW1 and MW3 in cross examination whether
the said Tavera vehicle was owned   by the management or not.
Due to these reasons, the claimant has failed to prove ownership of
these vehicles with the management.  
                 The claimant had filed an application for a direction to
the   management   to   produce   his   service   record.     In   reply,   the
management   had   taken   some   objections   and   despite   it,   the
application   was     allowed   with   the   observation   that   it   shall   be
beneficial   to   the   management   also   to   produce   documents   as
production of those documents   would prove management's plea
that   claimant   was   not   its   employee.     In   this   background,   the
management   was   directed   to   place   on   record   following   service


LIR No.670/17.                                                             15/23
 record of its employees :­
       1. Appointment letter of the claimant. 
       2. Wage register of its employees from 06.03.2005 to 
            28.02.2013.  
       3. Bonus register from 06.03.2005 to 28.02.2013.
       4. Attendance register from 06.03.2005 to 28.02.2013.

                 The management has taken the plea in the evidence of
MW3 that those documents were stolen.  In this aspect, it did not
place on record any DD or FIR.  It tried to shift blame on  claimant
by taking plea  in  the round­about  way that he  had stolen  those
documents, but that plea has already been found false.  There is no
reason explanation with management for non­production of those
documents and hence, an adverse inference is drawn against it.  In
view of above discussion, it is held that claimant had joined the
management on 01.03.13 and not on 06.03.05.  


14.           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.670/17.                                                           16/23
                  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"

15.              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

LIR No.670/17.                                                           17/23
                  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   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".


16.              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


LIR No.670/17.                                                                 18/23
                  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   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 LIR No.670/17. 19/23 127, 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 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.

LIR No.670/17. 20/23

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   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. ... 
LIR No.670/17. 21/23
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." 

17. Claimant deposed that his service was terminated on 28.06.16.    He was asked by Conciliation Officer   on 07.08.16 to report   for   duty  on  08.08.16  and  when  he  reported  for  duty,  his signatures were obtained on full and final settlement documents by paying   only   Rs.6,200/­.     All   these   facts   suggest   that   relations between both parties are quite sour.   Mutual trust is completely missing.  Such situation rules out relief of reinstatement. 

18. Taking   into   account   the   length   of   service   and   last drawn wages, a lump­sum compensation of Rs.3,20,000/­ (Rupees Three Lakh and Twenty Thousand Only) is granted to claimant. The management is directed to pay the  abovesaid  amount to him within one month from the date of publication of the award, failing which it shall be liable to pay interest on it @ 9% per annum from today till its realization.  Parties to bear their own costs.  Award is LIR No.670/17. 22/23 passed accordingly.  Reference is answered accordingly. 

19. 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 05.09.2017.   PILOT COURT / POLC­XVII         KKD COURTS, DELHI.      




                                             Digitally
                                             signed by
                                             UMED SINGH
  UMED                                       GREWAL
                                             Location:
  SINGH                                      Delhi
  GREWAL                                     Date:
                                             2017.09.05
                                             16:48:22
                                             +0530

LIR No.670/17.                                                 23/23