S.C. Gupte, J. - (1.) Heard learned Counsel for the Petitioner and Respondent No.3 State. Respondent Nos. 1(a) to 1(g), who are legal heirs of Original Respondent No.1, who have been brought on record by way of an amendment, are absent.
(2.) The petition challenges an award passed by the Labour Court at Mumbai in a reference made to it under the Industrial Disputes Act. The controversy concerns the claim of reinstatement with full back wages and continuity of service of original Respondent No.1. By the impugned award, the reference was allowed and reinstatement with full back wages and continuity in service was ordered. That order was challenged in the present petition chiefly on the ground that the Petitioner, against whom the award was passed, is not an 'industry' within the meaning of Section 2(j) of the Industrial Disputes Act.
(3.) The Petitioner is a Cooperative Housing Society. It had engaged Respondent No.1 as a watchman. Upon his completion of 60 years of age, his services were terminated with effect from 1 November 2000. It is the Petitioner's case that the termination was with mutual consent. That is a matter of dispute. Respondent No.1 was paid exgratia/retirement benefit, which was accepted by him. He, thereafter, raised a demand for reinstatement. It was his case that he was a permanent employee of the Petitioner and was terminated without any enquiry or offering proper retrenchment compensation. The reference was resisted by the Petitioner herein on the ground that the Petitioner was a housing society; that the services rendered by Respondent No.1 were personal services; and that the society not being an industry or Respondent No.1 its workman within the meaning of the term under the Industrial Disputes Act, the reference was not maintainable. By its impugned award, the Labour Court held that though the society was a cooperative housing society, it earned profits by way of additional income from its members and accordingly, fell within the definition of industry. The Court held that the profit motive was proved and that the society could not be termed merely as a housing society. It, accordingly, held the reference to be maintainable and then proceeded to decide the other issues concerning legality of the termination and the reliefs to be granted to Respondent No.1.;