Madras High Court
The Management vs S.Syed Abdul Kadhar on 12 October, 2020
Author: R. Suresh Kumar
Bench: R. Suresh Kumar
W.P.No.979 of 2018
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED : 12.10.2020
CORAM
THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE R. SURESH KUMAR
W.P.No.979 of 2018 and
W.M.P.Nos.1166 to 1168 of 2018 & 26163 of 2019
The Management
Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation Ltd
Head Office, No.12, Thambusamy Road
Kilpauk, Chennai 600 010. ... Petitioner
-Vs-
1.S.Syed Abdul Kadhar
2.The Deputy Commissioner of Labour-I
(Appellate Authority under Payment of
Subsistence Allowance Act),DMS Compound
Chennai 600 006.
3.The Assistant Commissioner of Labour-I
(Authority under Payment of Subsistence
Allowances Act), DMS Compound,
Chennai 600 006. ... Respondents
Prayer : Writ Petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying for the
issue of a Writ of Certiorari to call for the records of the order passed by the third
respondent, The Assistant Commissioner of Labour-I (Authority as under Payment
of Subsistence Allowances Act) in PSA No.59/2013 dated 04.02.2015 and the
consequential Appellate Order of the 2nd respondent, the Deputy Commissioner of
Labour-I (Appellate Authority under Payment of Subsistence Allowance Act) Chennai
in PSA (A) No.1 of 2015 dated 20.10.2017 and to quash the same.
For Petitioner : Mr.Desingh Natesan
for Mr.P.Paramasivadoss
For Respondents : Mr.L.P.Shanmugasundaram
Special Government Pleader-for RR 4 and 5
http://www.judis.nic.in
Page 1 of 12
W.P.No.979 of 2018
ORDER
The prayer sought for herein is to call for the records of the order passed by the third respondent, The Assistant Commissioner of Labour-I (Authority under Payment of Subsistence Allowances Act) in PSA No.59/2013 dated 04.02.2015 and the consequential Appellate Order of the 2nd respondent, the Deputy Commissioner of Labour-I (Appellate Authority under Payment of Subsistence Allowance Act) Chennai in PSA (A) No.1 of 2015 dated 20.10.2017 and to quash the same.
2. The first respondent was working as Assistant with the petitioner Management ie., Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation. While so, due to a criminal case, which is not related to the discharge of his official duty, he was arrested. Therefore the petitioner, due to the judicial custody on the part of the first respondent, placed the first respondent under suspension by order dated 15.02.2011 with effect from the date of detention ie., 04.02.2011 until further orders. The said suspension order was revoked by the petitioner only by an order dated 29.11.2013. In this context, the grievance of the first respondent seems to be that, though he was placed under suspension with effect from February 2011 to January 2013, he was only paid 50% of the salary as subsistence allowance and the same has not been enhanced beyond 90 days to the extent of 75% and beyond 180 days the subsistence allowance has not been enhanced to the extent of 100%, as has been contemplated under the provisions of the Tamil Nadu Payment of Subsistence Allowance Act, 1981 (hereinafter referred to as 'the Act'). http://www.judis.nic.in Page 2 of 12 W.P.No.979 of 2018
3. In that context, the first respondent has filed necessary petition in P.S.A.No.59 of 2013 before the third respondent, who is the Authority under the said Act. The said P.S.A., was decided by the third respondent by way of an Award dated 04.02.2015, whereby the third respondent has passed the following order.
“kDjhuh; jd;Dila kDt[ld; ,izf;fg;gl;Ls;s gpiHg;g{jpaj;jpw;fhd fzf;fPl;oy; khjk; xd;wpw;F mog;gilr; rk;gsk; U:/7,860/- mftpiyg;go U:/5.232/- tPl;L thlifg;go U:/1.000/-, efu <l;Lg;go U:/400/- bkof;fy; mytd;!; U:/100/- ju Cjpak; U:/2,400/- Mf bkhj;jk; U:/16,992/- vd bjhptpj;Js;sij vjph;kDjhuh; eph;thfk; kWf;ftpy;iy vd;gjhy; kDjhuh; ,Wjpahf bgw;w rk;gsk; U:/16,992/-. vd;W jPh;khdpf;fg;gl;L. ,e;j tptu';fs; mog;gilapy; kDjhuUf;F fPH;fz;lthW gpiHg;g{jpaj; bjhif fzf;fplg;gLfpwJ/ kDjhuh; rk;gsk; U:/16,992/-
jw;fhypf gzpePf;ff; fhyk; 04/02/2011 Kjy;
30/01/2013 Koa
04/02/2011 Kjy; 04/05/2011 Koa Kjy; 90 ehl;fSf;F 50% rk;gs U:/25/488/00
mog;gilapy;
05/05/2011 Kjy; 02/08/2011 Koa 90 ehl;fSf;F 75% rk;gs U:/38.232/00
mog;gilapy;
03/08/2011 Kjy; 30/01/2013 Koa Mf!;l; 2011 29 ehl;fs; U:/3.05.290/00
kw;Wk; 01/09/2011 Kjy; 30/01/2013 Koa 17 khj';fSf;F 100% rk;gs mog;gilapy;
kDjhuUf;F tH';fg;glntz;oa gpiHg;g{jpaj; bjhif U:/3.69.010/00 kDjhuUf;F Vw;fdnt tH';fg;gl;l gpiHg;g{jpaj; bjhif 04/02/2011 U:/2.02.943/00 Kjy; 30/01/2013 Koa 50% rk;gs mog;gilapy;
kDjhuUf;Fhpa gpiHg;g{jpa bjhif U:/1.66.067/00 nkw;fz;lthW fzf;fplg;gl;l gpiHg;g{jpa bjhif U:/1.66.067-= (U:gha; xU ,yl;rj;J mWgj;J Mwhapuj;J VG kl;Lk;) ,t;thiz fpilf;fg;bgw;w 30 jpd';fspy; kDjhuUf;F vjph; kDjhuh; tH';f ,jd; K:yk; Miz tH';fg;gLfpwJ/
4. Aggrieved over the said order passed by the third respondent, the petitioner Management preferred an appeal to the second respondent, in P.S.A.(A) http://www.judis.nic.in Page 3 of 12 W.P.No.979 of 2018 No.1 of 2015, which was also decided by the said Authority ie., the second respondent being the appellate authority under the Act, by the impugned Award dated 20.10.2017, where the second respondent having confirmed the order passed by the third respondent, has rejected the appeal filed by the petitioner Management. Aggrieved over the same, the petitioner Management has preferred this Writ Petition with the aforesaid prayer.
5. Heard Mr. Desingh Natesan, representing counsel for Mr.Paramasivadoss, learned counsel on record for the petitioner. The learned representing counsel expressed some difficulty today also, even though the case already came up before my predecessor and before me on various dates. On 05.09.2019, when the case came up, in view of non-appearance of the petitioner it was posted under the caption 'for dismissal' and when it came up on 06.09.2019 under the caption 'for dismissal', probably at the request of the learned counsel for the petitioner, the caption 'for dismissal' was removed and the learned Judge directed to post it on 03.10.2019 and when the case came up on 03.10.2019, again at the request of the learned counsel for the petitioner it was posted after two weeks ie., on 14.10.2019. When the case lastly came up before me on 05.10.2020, at the request of the learned counsel for the petitioner, specifically it was posted today ie., 12.10.2020 to get along with the case.
http://www.judis.nic.in Page 4 of 12 W.P.No.979 of 2018
6. Today also, when the case was called, the learned representing counsel is not ready to get along with the case. Therefore, this Court proceeded to decide this matter on merits on the basis of the available records.
7. It is not in dispute that, the first respondent was placed under suspension from the period February 2011 till January 2013. In this context, it is to be noted that, under Section 3 of the said Act, the percentage of subsistence allowance to be allowed for the employee who is placed under suspension for first 90 days and thereafter beyond 90 days upto 180 days and thereafter beyond 180 days, has been provided. In order to appreciate the same, Section 3(1) of the Act is extracted hereunder.
3. Payment of subsistence allowance- (1) An employee who is placed under suspension shall, during the period of such suspension, be entitled to receive payment from the employer as subsistence allowance, an amount equal to fifty percentum of the wages which the employee was drawing immediately before suspension, for the first ninety days reckoned from the date of such suspension:
Provided that where the period of suspension exceeds ninety days, but does not exceed one hundred and eighty days, the employee shall be entitled to receive, after the said period of ninety days, a subsistence allowance equal to seventy-five percentum of the wages which the employee was drawing immediately before his http://www.judis.nic.in Page 5 of 12 W.P.No.979 of 2018 suspension.
Provided further that where the period of suspension exceeds one hundred and eighty days, the employee shall be entitled to receive wagesin full which the employee was drawing immediately before his suspension :
Provided also that where the enquiry or criminal proceeding is prolonged beyond the period of ninety days for reasons directly attributable to the employee, the subsistence allowance shall, for the period exceeding ninety days, be reduced to fifty percentum of the wages, which the employee was drawing immediately before his suspension.”
8. The statutory provision cannot be disputed by the petitioner Management and accordingly based on the statutory provision, both the parties viz., the third respondent as well as the second respondent have proceeded to decide the issue that, the first respondent would be entitled to get subsistence allowance at the rate as specified under Section 3(1) of the Act as quoted above.
9. In this context, I have gone through the discussion made by the second respondent appellate authority, who after having considered the order passed by the original authority ie., the third respondent, has come to the conclusion that, the order passed by the third respondent is liable to be sustained. In order to appreciate the order passed by the second respondent, which is impugned in this http://www.judis.nic.in Page 6 of 12 W.P.No.979 of 2018 writ petition, the relevant portion of the said order is extracted hereunder.
“ Miz ,t;tHf;fpy; jPh;khdpf;fg;gl ntz;oa Kf;fpa vGtpdh ahbjdpy;
vjph;kDjhuiu jw;fhypf gzpePf;fk; bra;j ehshd 04/02/2011 Kjy; 30/01/2013 tiu gpiHg;g[{jpak; tH';fy; rl;lg;go Kiwna 50%, 75% kw;Wk; 100% rjtpfpjk; gpiHg;g{jpakhf bgw jFjpa[ilath;jhdh vd;gij jPh;khdpf;fg;glntz;Lk;. nky;KiwaPl;lhsh; epWtdk;. vjph;kDjhuh; Fw;w braypy; <Lgl;l fhuzj;jpdhy; fhty; Jiwapduhy; ifJ bra;ag;gl;L ePjpkd;w fhtypy; 48 kzp neuj;jpw;Fk; nkyhf itf;fg;gl;L ,Uej;jhy; jkpH;ehL Efh;bghUs; tzpgf; fHfk; (TNCSC) gzp XG';Fkiw tpjpfspd; fPH; jw;fhypf gzpePf;fk; bra;ag;gl;ljhft[k;. Fw;wtpay; ePjpkd;wj;jpy; Fw;w tHf;F epYitapy; ,Ue;jjhy; mtUf;F gpiHg;g{jpak; mtuJ filrpkhj rk;gsk; mog;gilapy; 50 % gpiHg;g{jpak; tH';fg;gl;L te;jjhft[k;. Fw;w eltof;iff;fhd fhuzKk; tHf;F Kot[bgwhky; epYitapypUe;jjw;F fhuzKk; vjph;kDjhuuhy; Vw;gl;lJ vd;gjhy; 50% gpiHg;g{jpak; kl;Lnk tH';fg;gl;lJ vd;Wk; 75 % kw;Wk; 100 % gpiHg;g{jpak; bgw jFjpaw;wth; vd;W Fwpg;gpl;Ls;sij ftdKld; fUjpg;ghh;f;f ntz;oaJ mtrpakhFk;.
nky;KiwaPl;lhsh; epWtdj;jhy; jhf;fy; bra;ag;gl;ll Mtzk; g{f;fil fhty; epiyak; vz;/3. Ke;jpahy; ngl;il FIR I ghh;itapl;ljpy;. vjph;kDjhuh; 03/02/2011 md;W es;sput[ mtUf;Fk; M.M.grpuh 60-11 byl; f-bg/o/ KfkJ ahTg; vd;gtUf;Fk; ,ilna Vw;gl;l FLk;gj; jfuhW rk;ge;jkhf g[fhh; mspf;fg;gl;ljpd; mog;gilapy; mth;kPJ Fw;w vz;/94- 2011 CR.PC 174(3) (r!;gPrpg!; blf;) d; fPH; tHf;F gjpt[ bra;ag;gl;lJ bjhpatUfpwJ/ fPHik ePjpkd;w tHf;F vz;. PSA/59-2013 tHf;F nfhg;gpid ghh;itapl;ljpy;. mjpy; vjph;kDjhuuhy; jhf;fy; bra;ag;gl;l fhty; cjtp Mizah;. JiwKf rufk;. g{f;fil khtl;lk;. brd;id=01 mth;fshy; 16 tJ Fw;wtpay; eLth; ePjpkd;wk; $hh;$; lt[d;. brd;id=01. Kd;ghf jhf;fy; bra;ag;gl;l Fw;wg;gj;jphpf;if vz;/F/tp//K/r/gphpt[ 173(2)(1) d; tHf;fpid ghh;itapl;lj;jpy;. Kjy; vjphpahf nrh;f;fg;gl;l jpU/bra;aJ mg;Jy; fhjh; M-t//30. j- http://www.judis.nic.in Page 7 of 12 W.P.No.979 of 2018 bg/rhFy; mkPJ (,t;tHf;fpy; vjph;kDjhuh;) vd;gtiu 05/02/2011 md;W 4.00 kzpastpy; ifJ bra;J ePjpkd;w fhtYf;F cl;gLj;jg;gl;ljhft[k;. ePjpkd;w gpizapy; cs;sjhft[k; Fwpg;gplg;gl;Ls;sJ bjhpatUfpwJ/ nkw;fz;l tptu';fspypUe;J vjph;kDjhuh; jdJ brhe;j FLk;g jfuhW rk;ge;jkhf Fw;w braypy; <Lgl;Ls;shh; vd;gJ bjhpatUfpwJ/ nkYk;. eph;thfk; jhf;fy; bra;Js;s brd;id. cah;ePjpkd;wk; 26/08/2013 njjpapl;l jPh;g;g[ 50% M.P.2/13 in W.P.No.23735/2013 ghh;itapl;ljpy;. eph;thfk; 15/02/2011 md;W. 50% Pro. AD5/12387/2011y; tH';fpa jw;fhypf gzpePf;f cj;jutpw;F ,ilf;fhy jil cj;jut[ tH';fg;gl;Ls;sJ bjhpatUfpwJ/ nkYk;. nkw;go cah;ePjpkd;w jPh;g;gpd;go. vjph;kDjhuiu. eph;thfk; 29/11/2013 Kjy; gzpapy; nrh;j;Jf; bfhz;ljhf. eph;thfj;jpd; vjph; gjpYiuapy; bjhptpj;Js;sdh;/ vjph;kDjhuh;. nky; KiwaPl;lhsh; epWtdj;jpy; gzpg[hpa[k; nghJ ve;j tpjkhd Fw;w bray;fspYk; <Lgltpy;iy vd;W bjhpatUfpwJ/ mtuJ brhe;j fhuz';fSf;fhf ,U FLk;g';fSf;fpilna Vw;gl;l FLk;gj; jfuhW fhuzkhf Fw;wtpay; tHf;F rk;ge;jkhf fhty; Jiwahy; ifJ bra;ag;gl;L ePjpkd;w gpizapy; mDg;gg;gl;Ls;shh; vd;gJk; bjhpatUfpwJ/ fPHik ePjpkd;w tHf;F vz;/PSA 59-2013 nfhg;gpid ghh;itapl;ljpy;. eph;thfk; fPHik ePjpkd;wj;jpy; jhf;fy; bra;j gjpYiu kw;Wk; cWjpg; gpukhz thf;FK:yk; Mfpatw;iw Ma;t[ bra;J ghh;j;jjpy;. vjph;kDjhuh; gzpapd;nghJ Fw;w braypy; <Lgl;L mjdhy; mtiu jwpfhypf gzpePf;fk; bra;ag;gl;L mjk; kPjhd Jiw tPrhuiz my;yJ Fw;wtpay; eltof;iff;F vjph;kWjhuh; fhuzkhf ,Ue;J 90 ehl;fSf;F nky; tprhuiz Kot[ bgwhky; epYitapy; ,Ue;jjhy; jkpH;ehL gpiHg;g{jpa tH';fy; rl;lk; (PSA Act 1981) gphpt[ 3d; go 50 gpiHg;g{jpak; kl;Lk; mtuJ filrpkhj rk;gsj;jpd; mog;gilapy; tH';fg;gLk; vd;w thjj;ij vGg;gtpy;iy vd;gJ bjhpatUfpwJ/ nkYk;/ eph;thfj;jhy; vjph;kDjhuUf;F tH';fg;gl;l jw;fhypf gzpePf;f cj;jutpw;F. brd;id http://www.judis.nic.in Page 8 of 12 W.P.No.979 of 2018 cah;ePjpkd;wk; 26/08/2013 md;W ,ilf;fhy jil cj;jut[ tH';fg;gl;ljpd; mog;gilapy; vjph;kDjhuiu kPz;Lk; gzpapy; 29/11/2013 Kjy; nrh;j;Jf; bfhz;ljhf eph;thfnk jdJ 06/07/2016 njjpapll;l vjph; gjpYiuapy; bjhptpj;Js;sJ bjhpatUfpwJ/ nkw;fz;l tptu';fspypUe;J bjhpatUtJ vd;dbtdwhy;. vjph;kDjhuh; jdJ gzpapd;nghJ eph;thfj;jpw;F ve;jtpj Fw;w bray;fspYk; <Lgltpy;iy vd;Wk;/. mtuJ brhe;j FLk;g jfuhW rk;ge;jkhf Fw;w braypy; <Lgl;L ifJ bra;ag;gl;L ePjpkd;w gpizapy; itf;fg;gl;L mtiu kPz;Lk; gzpapy; nrh;j;Jf; bfhs;sg;gl;Ls;sJ bjhpatUfpwJ/ mjdhy; vjph;kDjhuuhy; ve;j tpjkhd fhyjhkjKk; tHf;F tprhuiz epYitapy; ,Ue;j nghJ Vw;gLj;jg;gltpy;iy vd;Wk; bjhpatUfpwJ/ nkw;brhd;d fhuz';fs; mog;gilapy; jkpH;ehL gpiHg;g[{jpak; tH';fy; rl;lk; gphpt[ 3(1) d; go vjph;kDjhuiu jw;fhypf gzpePf;fk; bra;j ehs; 04/02/2011 Kjy; 90 ehl;fs; fle;Jk; bjhlh;e;J jw;fhypf gzpePf;fj;jpy; itf;fg;gl;L 2013y; kPz;Lk; gzpf;F vLj;Jf; bfhs;sg;gl;ljhy; ,ilg;gl;l fhyj;jpy; 75 % kw;Wk; 100 % (KG rk;gsk;) bgw jFjpa[ilatuhfpwhh; vd;W jPh;khdpf;fpnwd;/ jkpH;ehL gpiHg;g{jpak; tH';fy; rl;lk; vd;gJ rK:fghJfhg;gpw;fhf ,aw;wg;gl;l xU rpwg;g[ rl;lkhFk;/ jw;fhypf gzp ePf;fk; bra;j gzpahsh;-bjhHpyhsh;fSf;F Kiwg;go tH';fg;gl ntz;oa gpiHg;g{jpaj;ij tH';f ntz;oa flil eph;thfj;jpw;F cs;sJ/ mjd;go ,k;nky;KiwaPl;lhsh; eph;thfk; bray;glhjjhy;. mjdy; ghjpf;fg;gl;l gzpahsh; fPHik ePjpkd;wj;jpy; gpiHg;g[{jpak; nfl;g[ bra;Js;shh;/ mjd;kPJ cjtp Mizah; brd;id. cah;ePjpkd;wk;. jkpH;ehL nfh=Mg;nul;ot; khh;f;bfl;o'; bglnurd; ypkpbll;. tHf;fpy; tH';fpa jPh;gpid nkw;nfhshf bfhz;L jFjpapd; mog;gilapy; rhpahd jPhg;g[ tH';fpa[s;sh;/ eph;thfk; ,izj;Js;s khz;g[kpF cr;rePjpkd;wk; hprh;t;ng';f; Mg; ,e;jpah tHf;fpy; 03/11/1993 md;W tH';fpa jPh;g;gpid ghh;itapl;ljpy; jw;fhypf gzp ePf;fj;jpy; itf;fg;gl;l gzpahsh;fSf;fhd ,ilePf;f fhyj;ij gzpapypUe;jtuhfth my;yJ tpLg;gpy; ,Ue;jjhf fUjg;glntz;Lkh vd;gJ Fwpj;J jPh;g;g[ tH';fg;gl;Ls;sJ/ Mdhy; ,e;j tHf;fpy; brd;id cah;ePjpkd;wk; tH';fpa jph;g;gpd; mog;gilapy; vjph;kDjhuiu 50% gpiHg;g[{jpak; tH';fp kPz;Lk; gzpapy; nrh;j;Jf; bfhs;sg;gl;Ls;sJ/ vdnt. http://www.judis.nic.in Page 9 of 12 W.P.No.979 of 2018 cr;rePjpkd;w jPh;g;g[ ,t;tHf;fpw;F bghUe;jhJ vd;gjhYk;. eph;thfk; 15/02/2011 njjpapl;l Miz K:yk; vjph;kDjhuiu jw;fhypf gzpePf;fk; 04/02/2011 Kjy; bra;ag;gl;l cj;jutpw;nf brd;id cah;ePjpkd;wk; ,ilf;fhy jil cj;jut[ tH';fpajhYk;. eph;thfj;jpd; nky;KiwaPl;L kDtpy; ve;jtpjkhd Kfhe;jpuKk; fhzg;gltpy;iy vd;gjhYk;. nky;KiwaPl;L kDtpid js;Sgo bra;J cj;jutpLfpnwd;/ mjd;go fPHik ePjpkd;wk; tH';fpa jph;g;gpy; jiyapl VJkpy;iy vd;gjhy; gpiHg;g{jpa tH';fy; rl;l mjpfhhp tH';fpa 04/02/2015 njjpapl;l jph;g;gpid cWjp bra;J cj;jutpLfpnwd;/ fPHik ePjpkd;w jPh;g;g[ cWjp bra;ag;gLfpwJ.”
10. From a reading of the said order of the appellate authority, ie., the second respondent, which is impugned herein, this Court finds that, the first respondent was admittedly placed under suspension beyond 90 days and also beyond 180 days and therefore as per Section 3(1) of the Act referred to above, he would be entitled to get the enhanced subsistence allowance of 75% between 90 to 180 days and thereafter after 180 days he would be further entitled for the enhanced subsistence allowance of 100%.
11. The original authority has calculated only that amount as envisaged in the provisions of the Act and the same has been accepted by the appellate authority also. I have found no reason to interfere with the orders passed either by the original authority or by the appellate authority, which have been passed strictly in accordance with the provisions of the Act and therefore, the petitioner cannot have any plausible reason to successfully challenge the impugned order. http://www.judis.nic.in Page 10 of 12 W.P.No.979 of 2018
12. In the result, the writ petition fails and therefore it is liable to be dismissed. Accordingly, the same is dismissed. No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petitions are also dismissed.
12.10.2020 Index : Yes Internet : Yes KST http://www.judis.nic.in Page 11 of 12 W.P.No.979 of 2018 R. SURESH KUMAR, J.
KST To
1.The Deputy Commissioner of Labour-I (Appellate Authority under Payment of Subsistence Allowance Act),DMS Compound Chennai 600 006.
2.The Assistant Commissioner of Labour-I (Authority under Payment of Subsistence Allowances Act), DMS Compound, Chennai 600 006.
W.P.No.979 of 2018
12.10.2020 http://www.judis.nic.in Page 12 of 12