K.B.N.Singh, C.J. - (1.) Both the writ appeals and the two petitions raise a common question of law and with the consent of parties, they have been heared together and are being disposed of by a common judgment.
(2.) The short facts necessary for disposal of both the appeals only need be stated.
(3.) By a notice, dated 28th December, 1971, the Superintendent, Tansi Leather Works, informed the fifteen workmen named therein that the Management had decided to lay off the 15 workers named therein out of 23 workers. The relevant portion of the notice reads as follows : "It is hereby informed to the workers that the Management had decided to give lay-off for 15 (fifteen) workers out of 23 (twenty-three) workers whose names are given below, with effect from 29th December, 1971, onwards until further notice. The reason for the lay-off being want of orders and inability to provide work for them". Only two of the laid-off workers, namely S. Gowri and G. Venkataratinamma filed two applications under S. 33C(2) of the Industrial Disputes Act, hereinafter referred to as the Act, before the Labour Court, Madras, alleging that they have been laid-off wrongly and they are entitled to full wages for the period that they had been laid-off. Both the applications were taken up together. The Management contested the proceeding before the Labour Court, and the Labour Court, after hearing the parties, by a common order came to the conclusion that the Management was entitled to lay-off under Clause 11(1) of its Standing Orders (Exhibit B-1) and as there was no provision for payment of wages to the laid-off workmen, they were not entitled to claim wages and dismissed the applications of both the workers.;