(1.) I have gone through the detailed judgment written by my brother K. Kannan, J. It is not possible for me to agree with the conclusion drawn by my brother. I am writing a separate judgment.
(2.) THE Labour Court (respondent No. 2), on appraisal of evidence, came to a conclusion that the workman had worked only for 234 days, however, by placing reliance upon ratio of the judgment of the Hon'ble Supreme Court in Workmen of American Express International Banking Corporation v. Management of American Express International Banking Corporation, ( : AIR 1986 Supreme Court 458), added Saturdays, Sundays and paid holidays in the service period, to calculate the requisite period of 240 actual working days, in a period of 12 months, preceding the date of retrenchment and set aside termination of the workman. Further by noting that the termination was ordered without complying with the provisions of S. 25F of the Act, the order was declared illegal and void and the workman was ordered to be reinstated with continuity in service and on payment of full back wages.
(3.) TO the contrary, it was noted that in the case of Executive Engineer, Public Health Division, Narnaul v. Raghbir Singh and another, Civil Writ Petition No. 6183 of 2004, decided on August 24, 2005, this Court has dealt with the same issue, relating to a daily rated workman and by making reference to the provisions of Rule 23 of the Minimum Wages Rules, 1950 (in short the Rules), it was observed that the weekly rest days shall be taken as a paid holiday and it must be counted in the period of 240 actual working days, to give benefit of the provisions of Section 25 -F of the Act.