Divisional Controller Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation vs Kalawati Pandurang Fulzele
Divisional Controller Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation vs Kalawati Pandurang Fulzele - Supreme Court Case 2022
REPORTABLE
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
CIVIL APPEAL NO. 463 OF 2022
Divisional Controller Maharashtra
State Road Transport Corporation ...Appellant(s)
Versus
Kalawati Pandurang Fulzele ...Respondent(s)
J U D G M E N T
M.R. SHAH, J.
1. Feeling aggrieved and dissatisfied with the impugned judgment
and order dated 30.01.2020 passed by the High Court of Judicature at
Bombay at Nagpur in LPA No. 37 of 2008 by which the Division Bench of
the High Court has dismissed the said appeal and has confirmed the
judgment and order passed by the learned Single Judge quashing and
setting aside the judgment and order passed by the Industrial Tribunal
and restoring the award passed by the Labour Court directing the
appellant to reinstate the respondent with back wages, the employer –
Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (hereinafter referred to
as “MSRTC”) has preferred the present appeal.
2. That the respondent herein was appointed as sweeper firstly, by
written order of appointment dated 08.06.1989 and by another order
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dated 01.04.1991 on a consolidated honorarium of Rs.500/- per month.
That there was an increase of Rs.50/- per month in her consolidated
honorarium. She continuously worked as sweeper till she was lastly
terminated on 01.08.1994. It appears that her husband was working as
a coolie in MSRTC, Chandrapur Depot and suddenly he became blind
and his family thus abruptly went in a state of penury. Therefore, she
was employed as a sweeper on contractual basis. She filed a complaint
under Section 28 read with item (1) of Schedule IV of the Maharashtra
Recognition of Trade Unions & Prevention of Unfair Labour Practices
Act, 1971 before the Labour Court, Chandrapur against the appellant –
MSRTC. In the complaint basically she challenged her termination. It
was her case in the complaint that she worked without any break and
while terminating her services she was neither paid any retrenchment
compensation nor notice of one month or wages in lieu thereof were
given to her. No seniority list was either prepared or published and there
was violation of Section 25-G and Rule 81 of the Industrial Disputes Act
(Bombay) Rules, 1957.
2.1 The Labour Court vide judgment and award dated 20.06.2002
directed the appellant to reinstate her with back wages on the ground
that termination was in breach of Sections 25-F and 25-G of the
Industrial Disputes Act. The Labour Court also held that the provision of
Section 2(oo)(bb) of the Industrial Disputes Act shall be applicable.
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2.2 Feeling aggrieved and dissatisfied with the order passed by the
Labour Court of reinstatement and back wages, the MSRTC preferred
revision petition before the Industrial Court and by judgment and order
dated 01.07.2003, the Industrial Court allowed the said Revision
Application No.339 of 2002 and set aside the judgment and award
passed by the Labour Court dated 20.06.2002 in Complaint (ULPA) No.
135 of 1994.
2.3 Feeling aggrieved and dissatisfied with the judgment and order
passed by the Industrial Court, the respondent-workman preferred writ
petition before the High Court being Writ Petition No. 3819 of 2003. By
judgment and order dated 04.06.2007, the learned Single Judge of the
High Court allowed the said writ petition and set aside the judgment and
order passed by the Industrial Court and restored the award passed by
the Labour Court of reinstatement and back wages.
2.4 Feeling aggrieved and dissatisfied with the judgment and order
passed by the learned Single Judge restoring the award passed by the
Labour Court of reinstatement and back wages and holding the
termination of the respondent in breach of Sections 25-F and 25-G of the
Industrial Disputes Act, the MSRTC preferred the Letters Patent Appeal
before the Division Bench of the High Court and by the impugned
judgment and order, the Division Bench of the High Court has dismissed
the said appeal, hence the MSRTC has preferred the present appeal.
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3. Ms. Mayuri Raghuvanshi, learned counsel appearing on behalf of
the appellant has vehemently submitted that in the facts and
circumstances of the case, the High Court has committed a grave error
in ordering reinstatement of the respondent with back wages. It is
submitted that the High Court has materially erred in observing and/or
confirming the order passed by the Labour Court holding that there was
a breach of Sections 25-F and 25-G of the Industrial Disputes Act. It is
submitted that the appointment of the respondent was on purely
contractual basis and for a particular period and on completion of the
contractual period, her services were put to end. It is therefore
submitted that when she was serving as a part-timer on contractual
basis, Section 2(oo)(bb) of the Industrial Disputes Act shall not be
applicable and therefore there is no question of breach of Sections 25-F
and 25-G of the Industrial Disputes Act as held by the Labour Court and
confirmed by the High Court.
3.1 Making above submissions, it is prayed to allow the present
appeal.
4. Present appeal is vehemently opposed by Shri Subhasish
Bhowmick, learned counsel appearing on behalf of the respondent –
workman.
4.1 It is submitted that as such there are concurrent findings recorded
by the three courts below that the termination of the respondent was in
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breach of Sections 25-F and 25-G of the Industrial Disputes Act. It is
submitted that once it is found that the termination was in breach of
Sections 25-F and 25-G of the Industrial Disputes Act, the Labour Court
rightly ordered reinstatement with back wages.
4.2 It is further submitted by Shri Subhasish Bhowmick, learned
counsel appearing on behalf of the respondent- workman that as such
the complaint was made by the respondent alleging unfair labour
practices. It is submitted that the respondent was appointed in place of
her husband, who was serving as a coolie in the MSRTC, however,
unfortunately, he became blind and, in his place, the respondent was
appointed. It is submitted that as she continuously worked till her
services were terminated and there was no break in service, the
termination is rightly held to be in violation of Sections 25-F and 25-G of
the Industrial Disputes Act.
4.3 Making above submissions, it is prayed to dismiss the present
appeal.
5. We have heard the learned counsel appearing for the respective
parties at length.
6. It is true that as such all the three courts below (except the
Industrial Court) held the termination of the respondent – workman in
breach of Sections 25-F and 25-G of the Industrial Disputes Act and,
therefore, the Labour Court ordered reinstatement with back wages.
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However, it is required to be noted that even as per the appointment
order produced by the respondent herself, her appointment was on
contractual basis at a fixed salary/honorarium of Rs. 500/- per month.
Though, it is a case on behalf of the appellant that her appointment was
a fixed term appointment, however, considering the appointment order,
the appointment was till further orders. Be that it may, the fact remains
that her appointment was on contractual basis and on a fixed
salary/honorarium of Rs.500/- per month. It also cannot be disputed that
she worked approximately for four years as a sweeper. As such there
were no specific averments/allegations in the complaint on any unfair
labour practice. Even there was no specific finding recorded by the
Labour Court that there was any unfair labour practice adopted by the
MSRTC. The only finding recorded by the Labour Court was that the
termination was in breach of Sections 25-F and 25-G of the Industrial
Disputes Act.
7. Having heard the learned counsel for the respective parties and
considering the nature of appointment of the respondent namely as
contractual appointment on a fixed salary/honorarium of Rs.500/- per
month and she worked for approximately four years, we are of the
opinion that in lieu of reinstatement and back wages, if a lumpsum
compensation of Rs.3,00,000/- (Rupees Three Lakhs only) is awarded, it
will meet the ends of justice. In the peculiar facts and circumstances of
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the case, when the appointment was purely on contractual basis and on
a fixed salary/honorarium of Rs.500/- per month, the order of
reinstatement with back wages was not warranted and instead if the
lumpsum compensation is awarded in lieu of reinstatement and back
wages as observed hereinabove, it will meet the ends of justice.
8. In view of the above and for the reasons stated above, present
appeal succeeds in part. The impugned judgment and order passed by
the Division Bench of the High Court and the judgment and award
passed by the Labour Court ordering reinstatement with back wages is
hereby modified and in lieu of reinstatement and back wages, the
appellant is directed to pay a lumpsum compensation of Rs.3,00,000/-
(Rupees Three Lakhs only) to the respondent, to be paid within a period
of four weeks from today.
Present appeal is partly allowed to the aforesaid extent. In the
facts and circumstances of the case, there shall be no order as to costs.
Pending application(s), if any, also stand disposed of.
………………………………….J.
[M.R. SHAH]
NEW DELHI; ………………………………….J.
JANUARY 31, 2022. [B.V. NAGARATHNA]
Landmark Cases of India / सुप्रीम कोर्ट के ऐतिहासिक फैसले
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