- (1.) The tran-sport wing of Tirupathi Tirumala Deva-sthanam (for short "T.T.D.") was transferred to the Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (for short 'the Corporation') under an agreement dated 8-8-1975. It was provided in the agreement that 850 workmen to be transferred to the Corporation. The transfer of the workmen to the Corporation was challenged in a writ petition No. 1361 of 1976 but it was dismissed on 13-7-1977 and a writ appeal filed againat the said judgment was also confirmed. While some of the transferred T.T.D. transport workers who opted to come under the Corporation Rules and Regulations were not before the Court, the other workers wanted to maintain their separate identity in spite of their transfer to the Corporation and so they did not opt to come under the Corporation Rules and Regulations. Subsequent to the transfer certain settlements had been entered into with the Corporation by the Union of the workmen from time to time. The members of the Union made a demand that under Clause 13 of the transfer ageeement dated 8-8-1975 they were entitled to the benefits which accrued to the present T. T. D. workers after 8-8-1975 but the Corporation did not agree for such demand, an industrial dispute was raised which was referred to the Industrial Tribunal (hereinafter referred to as 'the Tribunal') under Section 10(1)(d) of the Industrial Disputes Act (for short "the Act"). The question referred to the Tribunal reads as follows : "Whether the former transferred T.T.D. workers (presently the APSRTC workers) are entitled to the benefits accused to the present T. T. D. workers after 8-8-75 in terms of the agreement dated 8-8-75. If so, to what extent - After notice the representatives of the Union, the Corporation and the T.T.D. filed their statements. The Union raised several questions although the question referred to the Tribunal was with reference to the benefits that have accrued to the present T.T.D. workers would be applicable to the erstwhile T.T.D. workers or not. In view of the several claims made before the Tribunal the scope of the reference was to be considered. The Tribunal examined various contentions and raised certain issues which are : 1. Whether the second respondent TTD represented by its Executive Officer is a proper and necessary party in this industrial dispute 2. Whether the members of the petitioner Union are entitled to the benefits conferred on the TTD employees subsequent to 10-8-1975 merger 3. If any relief is to be granted in this industrial dispute against whom should the award be passed 4. To what relief The Tribunal noticed that Clause 11 of the agreement indicated that the T. T. D. reserved its right to retain vehicles, equipment and other assets as required by them along with the required number of workers to operate them. Clause 13 stipulated that all the remaining workmen working in the transport undertaking of the T.T.D. without interruption in their service are taken by the Corporation and protection is given in pay and allowance, provident fund contributions and gratuity in terms of Section 25FF of the Act and T.T.D. agreed to pay such compensation if any as is liable to be paid to workmen who do not opt to serve under the Corporation. Under Clause 14 arrangement is made for retirement benefits, provident fund and gratuity. Under Clause 15 T.T.D agreed to continue to permit the employees to continue to reside in their quarters subject to certain conditions. Pursuant to the take over there was complete cessation of legal relationship between the members of the Union and the T.T.D. and after 10-8-1975 these employees have entered into various agreements and settlements with the Corporation and the T.T.D. was not a party to those agreements and none of these workers opted to be retrenched and claimed compensation from the T.T.D., the Tribunal confined the dispute only as against the Corporation. The entire transport wing had been handed over to the Corporation and, therefore, Section 25FF of the Act would be applicable. But the workmen also exercised their option in the form indicated in Ex. M9 in which they have to give an undertaking that they shall abide by the rules of RTC in force from time to time subject to the workmen rights under Section 25FF of the Act. This option form was provided pursuant to a writ petition No. 1156 of 1975. In the circumstances, the Tribunal found that having given categorical undertaking that they would abide by the rules and regulations of the Corporation in force, it is not open to the members of the claimant Union to now contend that they continued to be governed by T.T.D. rules and regulations and they continue to be employees of the T.T.D. Therefore, the Tribunal held that they are not entitled to claim benefits which (were) conferred by the T.T.D. Management on its employees subsequent to 10-8-1975. However, after rejecting several other reliefs claimed, the Tribunal granted the following four reliefs :- (1) Pay in the selection grade will have to be fixed taking 1-1-1975 as the crucial date. (2) Regarding promotions, it held as under : "if and when the workers opt to be governed by A.P.S.R.T.C. Regulations then they may be given promotions taking into account their total service and the seniority including the TTD services." (3) The facility for bus tour on concessional hire, and (4) Ex gratia bonus should be paid to the members of the claimant Union on tthe same basis on which ex gratia bonus is paid to other employees of the RTC. The matter was carried in writ petition to the High Court and High Court by its order made on 3-12-1996 did not interfere with the award made by the Tribunal. It is only in regard to these four reliefs that arguments are addressed before us.
(2.) In this Court the contentions urged before the Tribunal and the High Court are reiterated that the question referred to the Tribunal being of a limited character as to whether the benefits accruing to the present T. T. D. workers could be extended to the employees of the transport wing or not and having answered that the said employees have all opted for being governed by the Corporation rules and regulations and other service conditions, it is not open to them to claim those benefits.
(3.) So far as the first question raised before us regarding selection grade is concerned, it is noticed by the Tribunal that selection grade has been given with effect from 1-1-1974 restricting the monetary benefits to be given only from 1-1-1978; that the orders were actually issued in the year 1976, and that the Corporation had agreed to safeguard the conditions of service of the workers. The Tribunal further noticed that the claim in that regard was pending consideration before the take over and, therefore, restricting the monetary benefits to be given only from 1-1-1978 was not justified and the monetary benefits will have to be given with effect from 1-1-1975. This claim appears to us has been rightly allowed by the Tribunal and thus calls for no interference.;