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[Cites 5, Cited by 0]

Delhi District Court

Through vs The Management Of on 14 September, 2018

     IN THE COURT OF SHRI LOKESH KUMAR SHARMA
            ADDL. DISTRICT & SESSIONS JUDGE
        PRESIDING OFFICER : LABOUR COURT - XIX
              DWARKA COURTS : NEW DELHI

LIR No: 4051/16

Sh. Kamal Kishore 
S/o Sh. Munna Lal 
R/o: RZ­E­258, Raj Nagar, 
Part - II, Palam Colony, 
New Delhi - 110045

Through
Mazdoor Ekta Committee, 
B­89, Gulmohar Park, 
New Delhi - 110049  
                                                         ....CLAIMANT

                              VERSUS 

The Management of 
M/s Centaure Hotel, 
I.G.I.A. Gurgaon Road, 
P.O. New Delhi - 110037 
                                                  ....MANAGEMENT

       Date of institution of the case           :       15.03.2011  
       Date of passing the Award                 :       14.09.2018

                             A W A R D


1.

This is a reference dated 16.11.2010, u/s 10(1) (C) and 12(5) of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, which was sent   by   Dy.   Labour   Commissioner   on   a   complaint   filed   by Claimant   against   the   Management,   wherein   the   following reference was to be answered :­ LIR No: 4051/16 Page 23 of 23 "Whether services of Sh. Kamal Kishore S/o Sh.   Munna   Lal   have   been   illegally/   and   or unjustifiably terminated by  the  Management, and if yes, to what relief is he entitled?"

2. Notice of reference was issued to Claimant after which the Claimant had appeared and filed his statement of claim, wherein, it was stated that he was working with  the management since 16.07.1982 as house keeping attendant whose   services   were   confirmed   by   management   on 01.08.1983   and   his   record   of   service   was   good.     He   was appointed   as   Asst.   Steward   in   F&B   Department   on 17.07.1985 and was confirmed on 01.10.1986 and thereafter he   was   also   promoted   as   Steward   but   was   not   given   his proper   seniority   and   when   the   matter   of   his   seniority   was challenged   by   him,   the   management   had   restored   his seniority to its original position on 02.03.1994.
The workman was stated to be an active member of Centaur Hotel Employees Union and was also Chairman of Air India Hotel Corporation of India SC and ST Employees Welfare   Association.     However,   management   got   annoyed from him because of his taking up causes of employees with the   Hotel   Management   especially   the   welfare   of   SC/ST category staff.   Due to the annoyance of management, the workman   was   issued   a   false   and   fabricated   charge   sheet dated   09.11.2000   which   was   rebutted   by   him   through   his reply   dated   10.11.2000.     However,   since   the   management LIR No: 4051/16 Page 23 of 23 was   bent   upon   to   remove   him   from   the   service,   one   Sh. Rajesh   Kashyap,   Dy.   General   Manager   (Operations)   who was not even legally competent to institute an inquiry against the workman or to appoint an Inquiry Officer, had appointed an Inquiry Officer and had later on changed the said Inquiry Officer as well.  
A   sham   inquiry   was   conducted   against   the workman   by   the   management   and   ultimately   the management   had   terminated   the   services   of   workman   on 08.04.2004   and   his   termination   order   was   signed   by   Sh. Tanvir Hazik, Vice President who was not even competent or authorized   to   do   so.     It   was   also   averred   that   since   the general demand of the workman was pending for adjudication before   Industrial   Tribunal   -   I,   Karkardooma   Courts,   New Delhi,   hence,   the   management   had   to   pay   one   month's wages to the workman in accordance with the provisions of Section 33(2)(b) of I.D.Act 1947 and also to file an approval application before the Tribunal before the termination of the services of the workman.  It was also averred that along with the removal order, the management had also paid an amount of Rs. 8,796/­ to the workman vide cheque no. 403038 dated 08.04.2004   drawn   on   Syndicate   Bank,   Air   Force   Station, Palam,   New   Delhi.     However,   the   said   cheque   was   not deposited by the workman on time as he was stated to be under severe mental tension and shock.   The said cheque when   presented   for   encashment,   got   dishonoured   as   it's LIR No: 4051/16 Page 23 of 23 validity period had already expired.  
In the light of the aforesaid facts, the  workman had prayed that an Award be passed for his reinstatement in service   with   continuity   of   service   and   all   consequential benefits and to declare the action of the management illegal and in contravention to Section 33 of I.D.Act, 1947.  
3. Notice   of   claim   was   sent   to   Management   who was  duly  served  with  the  same  and  had   also  appeared   to contest the claim of workman on merits and filed its written statement on record, wherein it had challenged the authority of the Delhi Government to send the present reference for adjudication to this Court.   Even the territorial jurisdiction of the Court was also challenged by the management and it was stated  further  that  due   to  some  poor  service  record   of  the Claimant, he  was issued charge sheet and when  his reply was   not   found   satisfactory,   then   he   was   put   to   domestic inquiry   and   after   conclusion   of   a   fair   and   proper   inquiry against the workman, he was removed from the service vide removal order dated 08.04.2004.  
On merits, all the contents of statement of claim unless the same were specifically admitted or essentially or purely constituted the matter of record, were denied by both the managements as wrong and incorrect. 
LIR No: 4051/16 Page 23 of 23
4. Workman   had   also   filed   replication   to   the   said written statement wherein he had denied the contents of WS as wrong and reiterated the contents of statement of claim as correct.
5. On the pleadings of the parties, vide order dated 07.03.2012,   ld.   Predecessor   of   this   Court   was   pleased   to frame the following issues :­
1.  Whether  this  Court  has   no  jurisdiction  to decide the present claim in its present form? O.P.M.
2.   Whether   charge   sheet   was   issued   to   the workman   by   the   competent   authority   and whether his removal orders were passed by the competent person, if so, to what effect? O.P.M.
3. Whether the management had actually paid one month wages to the workman at the time of   his   removal   from   the   services,   if   not   the consequences thereof? O.P.W.
4.   Whether   the   management   contravened Section 33(1)(2) and 33 of the I.D. Act 1947? Onus on parties.
5. Whether the management conducted a fair and proper domestic enquiry? O.P.M.
6. Relief.
6. However,   vide   subsequent   order   dated 27.09.2012,   the   onus   to   prove   the   issue   no.   2   and   5   was LIR No: 4051/16 Page 23 of 23 shifted upon the workman instead of management.    
7. In   order   to   discharge   the   onus   of   proving   the issues, the workman had appeared in the witness box as his sole witness and filed in evidence, his examination in chief by way   of   affidavit   Ex.   WW1/A   wherein   he   had   reiterated   the factual   contents   of   his   statement   of   claim   on   solemn affirmation.   However, this affidavit was confined only to the inquiry issue which was framed by my ld. Predecessor and was treated as a preliminary issue.
Besides   the   affidavit,   the   workman   had   also placed on record the following documents :­
1.  copy  of  proceedings  dated  01.07.2010  along with  its  annexures  running   into  7  pages  as  Ex. WW1/1;
2. copy of rules to conduct disciplinary, appeal, regulations   and   powers   to   award   penalties   as enumerated in regulation 78 as Ex. WW1/2;
3. copy of appointment letter of workman dated 16.07.1982 as Ex. WW1/3;
4. copy of confirmation letter dated 01.08.1983 as Ex. WW1/4;
5. copy of letter of appointment as Asst. Steward dated 17.07.1985 as Ex. WW1/5;
6. copy of confirmation letter dated 01.02.1986 as Ex. WW1/6;
LIR No: 4051/16 Page 23 of 23
7.   copy   of   promotion   letter   dated   29.02.1992 promoting   the   workman   from   Asst.   Steward   to Steward as Ex. WW1/7;
8.   copy   of   confirmation   of   workman   dated 01.10.1992 at the post of Steward as Ex. WW1/8;
9.   copy   of   representation   made   on   behalf   of workman through his Union dated 21.08.1995 as Ex. WW1/9;
10.   copy   of   schedule   to   conduct   disciplinary inquiry as Ex. WW1/10 (same as Ex.WW1/2);
11.   copy   of   charge   sheet   dated   09.11.2000   as Ex. WW1/11;
12. copy of reply of workman dated 10.11.2000 to the said charge sheet as Ex. WW1/12;
13. copy of letter of appointment of Inquiry Officer dated 28.06.2002 as Ex. WW1/13;
14.   copy   of   letter   dated   24.04.2003   regarding change of Inquiry Officer as Ex. WW1/14;
15.   copy   of   letter   dated   23.09.2003   regarding further change of Inquiry Officer as Ex. WW1/15;
16. copy of order of removal dated 08.04.2004 as Ex. WW1/16;
17.  original   memos  of  dishonour   of  cheque  are Ex. WW1/17 and Ex. WW1/18;
18.   original   cheque   for   amount   of   Rs.   8795/­ dated 08.04.2004 is Ex. WW1/19;
19.   a   letter   dated   29.04.2003   addressed   to LIR No: 4051/16 Page 23 of 23 management   for   purchase   of   ladoos   on   the occasion of labour day as Ex. WW1/20;
20. copy of representation dated 17.07.2003 by Union   addressed   to   management   as   Ex.
WW1/21;
21. copy of representation dated 29.04.2003 by Union   addressed   to   management   as   Ex.
WW1/22;
22.   copy   of   representation   dated   08.02.2003   to the   management   for   declaration   of   holiday   on account of Ambedkar Jayanti as Ex. WW1/23;
23. Similarly other representations made by the Union to the management on different issues are Ex. WW1/24 to Ex. WW1/27;
24. photocopy of letter dated 28.08.2004 written by   the   workman   to   the   management   regarding dishonour of the cheque as Ex. WW1/28;
25.   copy   of   representation   dated   09.11.2000 made   by   the   workman   to   the   management regarding compliance of the principles of natural justice by the inquiry officer as Ex. WW1/29;
26. copy of intimation dated 07.10.2004 given by the   workman   to   the   management   regarding second dishonour of cheque as Ex. WW1/30;
27.   copy   of   objection   raised   by   workman regarding   conduct   of   Inquiry   Officer   dated 13.08.2003 as Ex. WW1/31;
28. copy of appeal dated 05.05.2004 against the removal order as Ex. WW1/32;
29. copy of report of the workman regarding his LIR No: 4051/16 Page 23 of 23 illegal termination of service and demand notice dated   01.04.2010   along   with   copy   of   postal receipts as Ex. WW1/33;
During   his   cross   examination   conducted   by   ld. AR for management on inquiry aspect, it was deposed by him that Ex. WW1/M1 from page no. 1 to 212 were the inquiry proceedings  and  Ex.  WW1/M2  from  pages  no.  213   to  227 was the inquiry report submitted by the Inquiry Officer and Ex.   WW1/M3   was   the   certified   copy   of   the   order   dated 04.08.2006   passed   by   Sh.   Dinesh   Dayal,   the   then   ld. Presiding Officer, IT­2.  
Similarly   Ex.   WW1/M4   was   the   order   dated 17.09.2008   passed   by   Sh.   Gurdeep   Kumar,   the   then   ld. POIT­2.  It was admitted by him that he was charge sheeted on 09.11.2000 and Sh. M.Kumar was appointed as Inquiry Officer.   However, he had denied the suggestion as wrong that he was explained the entire procedure of the Inquiry on 17.09.2002 by the Inquiry Officer.  However, he had admitted the fact of his putting signatures on each page of the Inquiry Proceedings dated 17.09.2002.  Further, he had denied that he was supplied 47 documents on 17.09.2002.  
Sh.   R.K.Sharma   was   appointmented   as   Inquiry Officer after Sh. M.Kumar.   He had also stated that he had raised   objections   to   the   appointment   of   Inquiry   Officers because   as   per   the   service   regulations,   only   a   General LIR No: 4051/16 Page 23 of 23 Manager could have punished him and Mr. Kashyap was not empowered   to   punish   him.     The   oral   objections   were   also stated to have been raised by him before the Inquiry Officers and it was denied by him that he had attended the inquiry on 07.07.2003   as   well   as   on   10.07.2003.     However,   he   had admitted that he was never denied the opportunity to cross examine   the   management   witnesses.     He   had   denied   the suggestion as wrong that he had never made any complaint to any official regarding any unfair inquiry being conducted against him.   However, it was admitted by him that he was also   given   an   opportunity   to   produce   his   evidence   but   he could not remember as to whether he had examined seven witnesses   in   support   of   his   defence.     He   had   denied   the suggestion that his evidence was closed on 20.10.2003.  He had   admitted   regarding   his   putting   signatures   on   inquiry proceedings as well as submission of his defence statement and change of inquiry officer on his representation as well as receipt of inquiry report by him.   Thereafter his evidence on inquiry issue was closed.
8. In rebuttal, the management had examined Ms. G.K.Sethi d/o Sardar I.S.Sethi as its witness who had placed on   record   her   examination   in   chief   by   way   of   affidavit   Ex. MW1/A,   in   which   she   had   reiterated   the   stand   of management   as   taken   in   the   written   statement   on   solemn affirmation   and   had   also   placed   her   letter   of   authority   on record as Ex. MW1/1.
LIR No: 4051/16 Page 23 of 23
During   her   cross   examination   conducted   by   ld. AR for workman, she had expressed her lack of knowledge regarding any resolution having been passed in any meeting of Board of Directors authorizing her to appear and depose in this matter as a witness.   However, the contrary suggestion put to her in this regard was denied by her as wrong.  It was also denied by her as wrong that Sh. Chetan Kak, the Vice President   had   no   authority   to   authorize   her   to   appear   and depose as a witness in this matter.  However, it was admitted to be correct by her that Air India Ltd and Hotel Corporation of   India   Ltd   were   two   different   entities   having   separate service regulations in respect of their employees.  
Witness was stated to be serving as an Officer (Reservation) with Centaur Hotel as on 01.07.1999 and it was admitted by her that she had not participated in any inquiry proceedings conducted against the workman.  However, she had denied the suggestion that workman had never indulged into   any   disciplinary   act   and   that   is   why   management   had restored his seniority with other benefits and  it was further deposed by her that restoration of seniority of workman along with other benefits had no concern with the indiscipline.  She was not aware if the workman was the Chairman of SC/ST Welfare Association during the period from 1994­2001.  She was further stated to have joined the personnel department of the management in the year 2001 and that is why she was LIR No: 4051/16 Page 23 of 23 not aware about the correspondence between SC/ST Welfare Association and the management.  A contrary suggestion put to her in this regard was again denied by her as wrong.  She had   also   expressed   her   lack   of   knowledge   that   Sh. K.S.Panwar,   one   of   the   conveners   who   was   earlier   an employee of the Ministry of Civil Aviation used to deal with the matter pertaining to the management during that time.  It was denied by her as wrong that said Sh. K.S.Panwar had not conducted an inquiry against the workman in a fair and impartial manner and that is why he was not authorized by the   management   to   appear   as   a   witness   in   this   case. Thereafter management's evidence was also closed. 
9. It   shall   be   pertinent   to   mention   here   that   vide order   dated   07.03.2012,   which   was   further   modified   vide order dated 27.09.2012, the issue regarding management's conducting a fair and proper domestic inquiry was framed as issue no. 5 by Ld. Predecessor(s) of this Court.
However, it shall be further pertinent to mention here that Sh. Dinesh Dayal, ld. Presiding Officer - Industrial Tribunal II (as his goodself then was), Karkardooma Courts in O.P.No.   16,   17   and   18   of   2004   vide   his   goodself's   order dated   04.08.2006   was   pleased   to   hold   in   favour   of   the management   and   against   the   workman   that   the   inquiry conducted by management against the workman was legal and valid one.
LIR No: 4051/16 Page 23 of 23
10. Similarly   issue   no.   3   pertaining   to   the   actual tender of one month's wages to the workman at the time of removal   of   his   service   was   decided   by   the   Court   of   Sh. Gurdeep   Kumar   (as   his   goodself   then   was),   ld.   Presiding Officer,   Industrial   Tribunal   -   II,   Karkardooma   Courts,   while dealing   with   the   approval   application   of   the   management herein vide his goodself's order dated 20.09.2008 in favour of the management and against the workman vide which he had also   granted   approval   to   the   management   under   Section 33(2) (B) of the I.D.Act for removal/ dismissal of the workman from the service holding that management had remitted full one month's wages to the workman.
11. Both   these   orders   were   challenged   before   the Hon'ble   High   Court   of   Delhi   vide   appropriate   writ   petitions which were also dismissed and hence the findings given by ld. Presiding Officer(s) of Industrial Tribunal - II had become final and binding in respect of these two issues and therefore same   do   not   require   any   fresh   adjudication   by   this   Court while dealing with the present matter in hand.
12. So   far   as   the   remaining   issues   are   concerned, the workman had again appeared in the witness box and filed in evidence, his examination in chief by way of affidavit Ex. WW1/B wherein again he had reiterated the contents of his statement of claim on solemn affirmation and had also relied LIR No: 4051/16 Page 23 of 23 upon the documents Ex. WW1/1 to Ex. WW1/33 which were already   exhibited   on   record   while   his   examination   on   the inquiry issue.
During   his   subsequent   cross   examination conducted by ld. AR for management, he was stated to have joined as house keeping attendant on 16.07.1982 and was terminated   on   08.04.2004   and   his   termination   order   was passed by Sh. Tanvir Haziq, the Vice President (Operations). He   had   denied   the   suggestion   put   to   him   that   Sh.   Tanvir Haziq was not the Vice President of the management at the relevant  point  of  time.     It  was   stated  by  him  that   said  Sh. Haziq   was   the   Appellate   Authority   and   not   the   Competent Authority   in   the   management   to   have   awarded   him   the punishment   which   competence   lies   with   the   General Manager.  
The   information   regarding   dishonour   of   the cheque   was   stated   to   have   been   conveyed   to   the management vide his letter Ex. WW1/28.   It was denied by him as wrong and incorrect that documents Ex. WW1/28 and Ex.   WW1/30   were  forged  and  fabricated  documents  and   it was   further   stated   by   him   that   he   had   not   filed   these documents   before   the   Industrial   Tribunal   when   the management   had   filed   the   approval   application   and   it   was also denied  by him as incorrect that management was not informed by him about the dishonour of the cheque or that he LIR No: 4051/16 Page 23 of 23 was deposing falsely.   Thereafter his evidence was closed again.
13. In rebuttal, Ms. G.K.Sethi, had appeared again in the witness box on behalf of the management and had filed in evidence,   her   examination   in   chief   by   way   of   affidavit   Ex. MWA1/A   wherein   she   had   again   reiterated   the   stand   of management   as   taken   in   the   written   statement   on   solemn affirmation.  Besides this, she had also placed on record the following documents :­
1. show cause notice dated 11/12.07.2001 as Ex. MW1/1;
2.   a   letter   dated   13.10.2000   pertaining   to   the suspension of the workman as Ex. MW1/2;
3. letters containing apology of the workman and his   assurance   about   future   good   conduct   and revocation   of   his   suspension   vide   letters   dated 25.10.2000   and   22.11.2010   as   Ex.   MW1/3   and Ex. MW1/4;
4.   another   suspension   letter   of   the   workman dated 01.07.1999 as Ex. MW1/5;
5. charge sheet dated 31.01.2000 as Ex. MW1/6;
6. reply dated 01.09.2003 along with kalandra u/s 93/97 D.P.Act as Ex. MW1/7;
7.   censure   order   dated   07.10.2013   as   Ex. MW1/8;
LIR No: 4051/16 Page 23 of 23
8. charge sheet dated 09.11.2000 as Ex. MW1/9 along  with schedule  to conduct  disciplinary  and appeal regulations as Ex. MW1/10;
9. removal letter of workman dated 08.04.2004 as Ex. MW1/11;
10. pay slip for the month of March of workman as Ex. MW1/12;
11.   delegation   of   power   vide   order   dated 14.01.2002 as Ex. MW1/13;
12. order dated 12.11.2002 as Ex. MW1/14;
13.   bank   statement   of   Syndicate   Bank   as   Ex. MW1/15;
14. judgment passed by ld. Industrial Tribunal - II dated   04.08.2006   and   20.09.2008   as   Ex. MW1/16 and Ex. MW1/17 respectively;
15.   order   dated   16.03.2009   passed   by   Hon'ble High Court of Delhi as Ex. MW1/18 and other writ petition along with affidavit dated 31.01.2009 as Ex. MW1/19 and Ex. MW1/20 respectively.
In her cross examination conducted by ld. AR for the workman on 23.05.2018, she was stated to be working in the management for the last 36 years and had joined the HR Department in the year 2001.  It was admitted as correct by her that the service rules and regulations of Hotel Corporation of   India   were   fully   applicable   to   the   employees   of   the management including the workman.  It was also admitted by her   that   Sh.   Rajesh   Kashyap,   the   then   Deputy   General Manager (Operations) had initiated a domestic inquiry against LIR No: 4051/16 Page 23 of 23 the   workman   and   had   appointed   Sh.   M.Kumar,   Senior Manager, as the Inquiry Officer.  However, it was denied by her as wrong that Sh. M.Kumar, had refused to conduct the said   inquiry   against   the   workman   while   intimating   the management that Sh. Kashyap was not legally competent to appoint him as an Inquiry Officer.  It was volunteered by her that   after   his   appointment   as   Inquiry   Officer,   Sh.   M.Kumar was   also   placed   under   suspension   which   compelled   the management to change the Inquiry Officer.  It was also stated by him that management must have mentioned the reasons for change of Inquiry Officer in its letter communicated to the workman, however, when she was confronted with the letter Ex. MW1/WX1, no such reason was found mentioned therein. She   had   also   denied   the   suggestion   that   no   powers   were delegated to the Managing Director as well as committee to take   administrative   action   against   the   employees   and   to impose penalty upon them and also that the Vice President of the establishment was not competent to impose penalty upon the workman.   It was further deposed by her that document pertaining to the delegations of such powers must have been available   in   their   office   and   formal   suggestions   were   also denied   by   her   as   wrong   and   incorrect.     Thereafter management evidence was also closed.
14. In   the   light   of   the   aforesaid   testimonies   of   the parties as well as documents placed and proved on record by them, my issue wise findings are as under:­ LIR No: 4051/16 Page 23 of 23 Issue   no.   1.   Whether   this   Court   has   no jurisdiction   to   decide   the   present   claim   in   its   present form? O.P.M. The   onus   to   prove   this   issue   was   upon   the management, however, no evidence has been adduced by the management in discharge of the same to show that this Court had no jurisdiction to decide the present claim as filed in its present form.  
Accordingly,   the   issue   is   answered   in   negative and   is   decided   against   the   management   and   in   favour   of workman.  
Issue   no.   3.   Whether   the   management   had actually  paid one  month wages  to the  workman at  the time   of   his   removal   from   the   services,   if   not   the consequences thereof? O.P.W. The   onus   to   prove   this   issue   was   upon   the workman   and   as   already   held   in   preceding   para,   the   said issue already stands decided by ld. Presiding Officer - IT (II) in favour of management and against the workman.  Hence, this issue does not call for any fresh adjudication.  
Issue   no.   5.   Whether   the   management conducted a fair and proper domestic enquiry? O.P.W.  The   onus   to   prove   this   issue   was   upon   the LIR No: 4051/16 Page 23 of 23 workman and as already held in preceding para(s), the said issue already stands decided by ld. Presiding Officer - IT (II) in favour of management and against the workman.  Hence, this issue also does not call for any fresh adjudication.  
Issue no. 2. Whether charge sheet was issued to the workman by the competent authority and whether his   removal   orders   were   passed   by   the   competent person, if so, to what effect? O.P.W. The   onus   to   prove   this   issue   was   upon   the workman.   Admittedly both the parties have relied upon the rules   to   conduct   disciplinary   and   appeal   regulations   and power to award penalty as enumerated in Regulation 78 as per which the competent/ disciplinary authority in respect of the   employees   whose   basic   salary   did   not   exceed   Rs. 16,750/­   per   month   was   the   General   Manager   and   whose appellate   authority/   reviewing   authority   was   stated   to   be Director   of   concerned   Department   or   the   Director (Administration) (as per Ex. WW1/2).   However, as per the document Ex. WW1/10, this criteria had applied only to the employees whose basic salary had not exceeded Rs. 7,525/­ per month.  
Admittedly,   the   charge   sheet   in   this   case   was issued   to   the   workman   by   his   General   Manager   Sh.   Anil Kalia, which has been placed on record as Ex. WW1/11 and as per the schedule relied upon by the workman, the General LIR No: 4051/16 Page 23 of 23 Manager was the competent disciplinary authority in respect of the present workman considering his basic salary.   Even the   workman's   reply   Ex.   WW1/12   dated   10.11.2000   to   the aforesaid charge sheet was also addressed to his General Manager   in   which   he   had   nowhere   raised   any   objections regarding competence of the General Manager to issue him the charge sheet. 
Merely   because   the   workman   was   informed about appointment of Inquiry Officer or the change of Inquiry Officer   by   Dy.   General   Manager   (Operations)   Sh.   Rajesh Kashyap, the same would not have taken away the charge sheet from the ambit of being a valid one.  
Similarly   perusal   of   the   record   reveals   that dismissal order dated 08.04.2004 Ex. WW1/16 in respect of the present workman was signed by Sh. Tanvir Haziq, Vice President   (Admin).     As   per   the   schedule   relied   upon,   the Director of Management which was later on re­designated as Vice President, as contended by ld. AR for Management who was admittedly senior to the General Manager. 
Despite   the   case   having   been   fixed   today   for pronouncement   of   the   orders,   AR   for   management   had appeared and filed an application for placing on record the extracts of minutes of meeting of Board of Directors held on 30.12.1993, although neither the relevance of this document LIR No: 4051/16 Page 23 of 23 was cited nor it was ever tendered in the evidence still it was insisted upon by ld. AR for management that the Court must take this document into consideration.  The documents talks about nothing but just mentions about the re­designation of the post of Directors who were not on the Board to the post of Vice President. 
In   view   of   the   aforesaid   evidence   available   on record,   there   can   be   no   hesitation   in   anybody's   mind   in holding   that   the   workman   was   charge   sheeted   by   a   duly competent authority i.e., the General Manager.  
So   far   as   the   second   part   of   the   issue   is concerned,  the  removal order  was  passed by  the  Superior authority   to   the   Competent   Authority   who   was   also   the appellate   as   well   as   reviewing   authority   in   respect   of   the workman in the context of punishment awarded to him.  Had it   been   the   case   where   a   person   junior   to   the   competent authority   had   issued   a   charge   sheet   and   had   signed   the removal orders of the workman, same could have been held to be prejudicial to his interest.  
However,   here   the   case   is   different   as   the aforesaid orders were passed and signed by superior officer to the  competent authority.   It is not even the case of the workman   that   in   view   of   his   removal   orders   having   been signed by a superior authority, he was not allowed to make LIR No: 4051/16 Page 23 of 23 an appeal against   the punishment awarded to him.   Rather his own document Ex. WW1/32 shows that he had made an appeal to the Managing Director of the management against his   order   of   removal.     Thus,   it   could   not   be   held   that   any prejudice had been caused to the workman by issuance of his   removal   order   by   a     person   superior   to   the   competent authority.  
I fail to understand as to why a person superior in rank to the Competent Authority cannot take an action, which his subordinate officer is competent to take.  Hence, the issue is   answered   in   affirmative   and   decided   in   favour   of management and against the workman. 
  
Issue   no.   4.   Whether   the   management contravened Section 33(1)(2) and 33 of the I.D. Act 1947? Onus on parties.
The onus to prove this issue was again on the parties.     Section   33(1)(2)   talks   about   dismissal   of   an employee during the pendency of any proceedings in respect of an Industrial Dispute and it states that no workman shall be discharged or dismissed unless he had been paid wages for one month after having obtained necessary approval from the authority before which such proceedings is pending. 
Admittedly   as   held   in   preceding   paras   and decision on the previous issues, the management had taken LIR No: 4051/16 Page 23 of 23 necessary approval from ld. Industrial Tribunal - II and had also paid one month's salary to workman hence it could not be said that it had violated the provisions of Section 33(1)(2) I.D.Act.     Issue   is   accordingly   answered   in   negative   and decided   in   favour   of   the   management   and   against   the workman.  
Issue  no.  6.  Relief  ­  In  view  of  my  findings  to above issues, the statement of claim as filed by claimant is dismissed being devoid of any merits.  
Award is passed accordingly.   Reference stands answered  in  aforesaid  terms.    Copies of award  be  sent  to Labour Commissioner for publication.   File be consigned to record room.
ANNOUNCED IN THE OPEN COURT 
DATED: 14.09.2018
                   LOKESH          Digitally signed
                                   by LOKESH
                   KUMAR           KUMAR SHARMA
                                   Date: 2018.09.15
                   SHARMA          12:13:35 +0530

              (LOKESH KUMAR SHARMA)
         ADDL. DISTRICT & SESSIONS JUDGE 
       PRESIDING OFFICER - LABOUR COURT XIX 
           DWARKA COURTS : NEW DELHI  




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