Pradeep Kumar, J. - (1.) HEARD the learned Counsel for petitioner and learned Counsel for the respondents.
(2.) THE instant writ application is directed against the judgment dated 23.3.2006 passed by the Presiding Officer, Labour Court, Ranchi in M.J. Case No. 5 of 2004 whereby the application of respondent No. 2 and 3 have been allowed by directing the petitioner to make payment of Rs. 2,22,378/(which includes Leave Encashment & bonus) to each of them. It is submitted by learned Counsel for petitioner - employer, Central Roller Flour Mills(Pvt.) Ltd, Ranchi that it is admitted case that after 14 years the workmen filed this case Under Section 33C(2) of the Industrial Dispute Act claiming back wages from 1990 to 2004 and as such the claim itself was stale. He has further submitted that finding of the Labour court is perverse in view of the evidence of the respondent No. 2, who admitted that since last seven years he is residing at Chapra and doing agricultural work at home and he has filed this case after seven years and as such it is absolutely clear that he was gainfully employed since last seven years. Learned Counsel has relied upon the judgment reported in the case of North East Karnataka Road Transport Corporation v. M. Nagangounda reported in : 2007 (10) SCC 765. He has further submitted that the finding of the labour court is perverse in view of the fact that respondent No. 3, Manager Rai himself admitted in his evidence that he is now aged about 60 years and also admitted in para 4 that age of retirement is 55 years and now admitted that he was not working for the last 14 years. The management gave evidence that he was plying taxi at Kolkata. Hence, the finding arrived at by the Labour court is wholly illegal, perverse and only fit to be quashed.
(3.) ON the other hand learned Counsel for the respondents submitted that respondent - workmen services were illegally terminated by the petitioner for which a reference was made in reference case No. 1 of 1991. Learned Labour Court while passing the judgment dated 14.6.1997 held that the dismissal of the service of the workmen was not justified and accordingly, they were directed to be reinstated with full back wages and consequential benefits. Thereafter, they challenged the award in writ application before the Hon'ble High Court in C.W.J.C. No. 2664 of 1997 and by virtue of the order dated 12.9.2002 Hon'ble High Court up held the award and refused to interfere and in that view of the matter, respondents -workmen will be deemed to be in service continuously without any back wages. When the petitioner - management did not allow the respondents to join their service, they made application to the Deputy Labour Commissioner, Ranchi and Dy. Labour Commissioner, Ranchi by its letter No. 1241 dated 23.3.2004 called upon the management and the workmen to the office on 29.3.2004 at 1 p.m. for implementation of the award. Inspite of the letter of the Dy. Labour Commissioner, the management instead of appearing on that date gave letter that they are ready to accept, but never allowed them to join their service. Lastly having no other option in 2004 they filed this writ application claiming back wages since, 1992 to 2004 and as such, the Labour Court has rightly allowed them back wages and it requires no interference by this Court.;