SCA No. 3534 of 1999 · Gujarat High Court

1.0 The petitioner has challenged the order dated

22.01.1999 passed by the Labour Court, Rajkot, in Recovery 2 Application No. 1699 of 1986, whereby the Labour Court has directed the petitioner Nagar Palika to make payment of Rs.29,400.00 to the respondent.

2.0 The respondent herein was appointed as a daily wager Watchman in the year 1976. It is the case of the petitioner that the respondent filed an application being Recovery Application No.1699 of 1986 before the Labour Court, Rajkot, alleging that from the year 1977 to March 1986 he was discharging the duties of an Octroi Naka Clerk, but, was being paid the wages of a daily rated Workman only, and therefore, he should be paid the salary of an Octroi Naka Clerk. The Labour Court, Rajkot vide award dated 22.01.1999 partly allowed the said application as aforesaid. Hence, this petition.

3.0 Mr. S C Patel learned advocate for the petitioner has contended that though specific contention was raised before the Labour Court that the Labour Court had no jurisdiction to entertain the matter since there didn't exist any award, order or judgment between the parties. He has submitted that the Labour Court has committed error by exercising powers under Section 33-C(2) of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947.

4.0 I have heard learned counsel for the parties. Having perused the documents placed on record, it appears that there does not exists any award, order or judgment between the petitioner and the respondent herein. In the absence of the above, the Labour Court ought not to have entertained the application under Section 33-C(2) of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 inasmuch as the benefits claimed by the respondent workman were neither adjudicated nor 3C-SCA-3534-1999-Y-1 crystallized by virtue of any award, order or judgment made after proper adjudication. Hence, the impugned order of the Labour Court is without any jurisdiction and is required to be quashed and set aside.