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"THE SCHEDULE
"Whether the management of Bhojudih Coal Washery
of M/s Bharat Coking Coal Ltd. is justified in not
departmentalising the 16 contract workers (as shown
in the annexure) employed in the job of maintenance
of water Supply System at Intake Well at Bhojudih
Coal Washery? If not, to what relief are the workmen
concerned entitled and from which date ?"
Page 3 2022:CHC-AS:71462
12. It is stated that the respondent Union in this case has claimed
the absorption of the contract workers upon comparing their
work under Bhojudih Coal Washery with that of Dugda Coal
Washery and Patherdih Coal Washery. The Union on behalf of
the contract workers claimed that since contract workers of the
Dugda Coal Washery and the Patherdih Coal Washery were
made permanent, their employment was also required to be
made permanent on that ground only.
13. In support of the said claim of the petitioner's case is that the
case of Dugda Coal Washery and the Patherdih Coal Washery is
just the reverse case of Bhojudih Coal Washery, as the said
Page 5 2022:CHC-AS:71462
washeries are situated at the upstream of river Damodar and
work which exists there is not seasonal in nature, but
throughout the year.
14. It is further stated that departmentalization of outside workers,
cannot form the subject matter of Industrial Dispute as there is
no Employer-Employee relationship and the petitioner thus
prays for setting aside of the said award which it is submitted,
is not in accordance with law.
15. The respondent no. 3 union herein on behalf of the 16 workmen
has argued on filing its written notes, that the facts of this case
is that the workers namely Charan Bouri with 15 other workers
have been working as contract labour, who are engaged by
different contractors and the said workers are working
continuously from the start of the job of maintenance for water
supply system at the intake well of Bhojudih Coal Washery of
M/s Bharat Coking Coal Limited from the year 1983.
The decision discourages the exploitation of
workers through temporary contracts and
arbitrary terminations, encouraging government
institutions to adhere to fair employment
practices.
The judgment is likely to influence future cases
involving similar disputes, guiding courts to look
beyond the initial terms of engagement and
consider the actual nature and duration of
service.