Mehtab Singh Gill, J. - (1.) THE petitioner has prayed for quashing of order dated July 23, 1999 (Annexure P -9) passed by the Secretary to Government Punjab, Department of Labour & Employment.
(2.) THE petitioner -Union and its workers have been working with respondent No. 2 for more than 10 years. Respondent No. 2 -Sangrur Vanaspati Mills Ltd. thereinafter referred to as "the Mill") closed down its two units. namely, (i) Soap Section, (ii) Oxygen Section. The workers who were working in these two units were employed in other units of the Mill. Respondent No. 2 Mill moved an application under Section 25(o) of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 (hereinafter referred to as "the Act") before respondent No. 1 to formally close down the two non -working sections of the Mill. Notices of the application were sent to the workers for appearance on July 7, 1999. The petitioner -Union appeared before respondent No. 1 on the given date. An advocate was engaged and objections were filed by the workers through their counsel before respondent No. 1 on July 20, 1999, after taking all aspects into consideration, the impugned order was passed. Notice of motion was issued to the respondents. Respondent No. 2 -Mill filed written statement.
(3.) WE have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the petition, written statement and the annexures attached therewith.;