D.S. Sinha, J. - (1.) Heard Sri Shashi Nandan, learned counsel appearing for M/s. Sahkari Ganna Vikas Samiti Ltd., Baitalpur, Deoria, the petitioner, and Sri. H.S.N. Tripathi, learned counsel representing the contesting respondent No. 3 in each writ petition, at length and in detail.
(2.) Exercising powers under Sub-section (4) of Section 7 of the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972 (hereinafter called the Act) the Controlling Authority passed orders dated March 30, 1988 directing the petitioning Samiti to pay certain amount to the contesting respondent No. 3 by way of gratuity. Aggrieved by the orders of the Controlling Authority Samiti has preferred appeals under Sub-section (7) of Section 7 of the Act before the Appellate Authority. Noticing non-compliance of the provisions of the second proviso to Sub-section (7) of Section 7 of the Act, the Appellate Authority passed orders dated February 13, 1989 holding the appeals of the Samiti to be not in accordance with law and directing the appeals to be consigned. The orders of the Appellate Authority are under challenge in these writ petitions under Article 226 of the Constitution of India.
(3.) Sub-section (7) of Section 7 of the Act entitles a perron aggrieved by an order under Sub-section (4) of Section 7 of the Act to prefer an appeal to the appropriate Government or such other authority as may be specified by the appropriate Government in this behalf within 60 days of the receipt of order. First proviso to Sub-section (7) of Section 7 of the Act empowers the appropriate Government or the Appellate Authority to extend the period of 60 days fixed for preferring the appeal, if it is satisfied that the appellant was prevented by sufficient cause from preferring the appeal within the period of 60 days. Second proviso to Sub-section (7) of Section 7 of the Act provides that no appeal by an employer shall be admitted unless the appellant either produces a certificate of the Controlling Authority to the effect that the appellant has deposited with him an amount equal to the amount of gratuity required to be deposited under Sub-section (4) of Section 7 of the Act, or deposits with the Appellate Authority such amount.;