- (1.) Challenge in this appeal is to the judgment of the learned Single Judge of the Allahabad High Court allowing the writ petition filed by respondents - Sadhan Sahkari Samiti Mujuri Vikas Khand Paniyara (hereinafter referred to as the 'Cooperative society'). Challenge in this appeal was to the recovery order issued by the labour authorities on the basis of a compromise award.
(2.) Background facts in a nutshell are as follows: Appellant was appointed as Salesman in the respondent- society which had four employees, as such the labour laws were not applicable to it. But the appellant filed cases under the Payment of Wages Act, 1963 (in short the 'Act') which were allowed and the society was directed to pay a sum of Rs.4,830/-. In pursuance of the direction in terms of Section 15 of the Act, the amount was paid to the appellant in March, 1988. He again filed an application under Section 6-H of the Uttar Pradesh Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 (in short 'U.P. Act') making a grievance that he was being paid less than minimum wages payable under the Act. The said claim was also decided ex-parte. Thereafter he claimed that he had been terminated. He made grievances in that regard and on that basis a reference was made to the Labour Court, Gorakhpur which was registered as Adjudication Case no.334 of 1987. Before the Labour Court, parties entered into a settlement and an award was passed on 9.12.1988 whereunder the appellant was entitled to receive a sum of Rs.12,726/-. However, a condition was stipulated that the present appellant shall withdraw all applications and proceedings made before various authorities under the labour laws including under the Act and also under Section 6-H of the U.P. Act. The amount has been paid to the appellant. However, he did not withdraw the proceedings and wanted their continuance, and some adjudication has also been made ex-parte. In the writ petitions, stand of the appellant-society was that Act did not apply to the society in view of the notification dated 30.6.1988. It was also urged that the U.P. Act does not apply to it as the service conditions of the appellant are governed by statutory regulations. The High Court found substance in the plea raised by the respondent-society and allowed the writ petition and set aside the orders dated 31.12.1988, 25.9.1989, 31.3.1990, 6.9.1990 and the award dated 9.12.1988 which was made on the basis of a settlement arrived at between the parties. Appellant has challenged legality of the High Court's order on the ground that in any event an award made on compromise cannot be set aside.
(3.) Learned counsel for the respondents supported the impugned judgment.;