JUDGEMENT
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(1.)W.P.Nos. 25745 of 2001, 18437 of 2001 and 26576 of 2001 and Batch, constitute three classes of disputes between the management of M/s. Hindustan Zinc Limited, Visakhapatnam, a Government of India undertaking and the workmen of Lead Smelter Unit at Visakhapatnam, an undertaking of Hindustan Zinc Ltd.
(2.)Twenty employees of the Lead Smelter Unit have filed W. P. No. 25745 of 2001 challenging the order of the Government of India dated 22-12-2000 granting permission for closure of the Lead Plant at Visakhapatnam, under Section 25-O of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 (for short 'the Act') with effect from 24-1-2001, on various grounds. Contesting the discharge of workmen on the closure of the Lead Smelter Unit and disputing the claim of the management that redeployment of the workmen of the Lead Plant to other plants of the company was not possible, one of the recognised unions sought reference of the dispute under Sec. 10 of the Act, after conciliation in this regard failed. The Government of India by its order dated 2-5-2001 referred a specified dispute for adjudication of the Industrial Tribunal-cum- Labour Court, Visakhapatnam. Challenging this order of the Government of India, the management-Hindustan Zinc Ltd., filed W.P.No. 18437 of 2001. Subsequent to dismissal of W.P.Nos. 375 and 520 of 2001 by the order of this court dt. 19-1-2001 (details of these writ petitions are being recorded in this judgment infra) and on the basis of the observations contained therein, some of the workmen of the closed unit approached the Industrial Tribunal-cum-Labour Court, Visakhapatnam (for short 'the Tribunal') under Sec. 2-A(2) of the Act, for a declaration to treat their discharge with effect from 24-1-2001 as illegal retrenchment, for reinstatement to employment and other benefits. Against the entertainment by the Tribunal of these claims as IDs, the management-Hindustan Zinc Ltd., has filed W.P. 26576 of 2001 and Batch, seeking writs of Prohibition.
(3.)As interconnected factual and legal positions fell for consideration in these three classes of writ petitions, this court heard all the writ petitions together and is disposing them by this common Judgment.