GANGADHAR PRASAD & ANOTHER Vs. STATE OF BIHAR AND OTHERS

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The orders of termination of the services of the petitioners contained in Annexures 13 and 13 -A have been questioned on the ground that the provisions of Sec. 25 -F of the Industrial Disputes Act (in short, the Act) has been violated . The short facts are that first petitioner was appointed as a temporary typist for two months initially in the year 1980 and was continued from time to time. Thus, he worked for a total period of 843 days with effect from 7.3.1980 to 17.7.1982. The second petitioner was appointed temporarily as correspondence clerk by respondent No. 2 initially for period of two months in the year 1979. It was extended from time to time and he worked for a total period of 1076 days with effect from 9.7.1979 to 15.7.1982. Both the petitioners were retrenched from service by two separate orders passed in the year 1982 (Annexures 5 and 10). This was challenged by way of writ petition (C.W.J.C. No. 897 of 1982) and after considering all the facts and circumstances of the case, the termination orders were quashed in January, 1984 on the sole ground that since the petitioners worked in the department continuously for more than 240 days, there was violation of the provisions of Sec. 25 -F of the Act. The judgment of this Court is Annexure 12. The petitioners thereafter, joined their duties in February, 1984. Thereafter the petitioners were served with the orders, Annexures 13 and 13 -A stating there in that for termination of their services one month's notice as required under Sec. 25 -F of the Act was being served. It was also stated therein that in accordance with Sec. 25 -F (b) of the Act, retrenchment compensation would be paid on the date of retrenchment. Soon thereafter this writ application was filed and the operation of Annexures 13 and 13 -A dated 28.1.1985 was stayed on 13.2.1985.

(2.) The principle is now well settled that the retrenchment compensation is to be paid on the date of retrenchment. I do not propose to unnecessarily deal with those cases enunciating the said principle. The only question which arises for consideration and which was, in fact, raised by the petitioner's counsel is that since the retrenchment compensation was not paid along with the notices. Annexures 13 and 13 -A are bad in law. But the relevant consideration to be noticed is that before the period of one month as stipulated in the said notices could expire, the petitioners filed this writ application just within eleven days of the issuance of the said notices and stay was obtained on 13 -2 -1985. Therefore, the retrenchment compensation could not be awarded in accordance with Sec. 25 -F (b) of the Act. The grievance of the petitioners therefore, that the impugned orders be quashed for non -compliance of Sec. 25 -F (b) of the Act cannot be entertained. The fact is beyond dispute that the petitioners were given one month's notice in writing on 28 -1 -1985 stating reasons for retrenchment, the same was received by them on 1 -2 -1985 and the period of notice was yet to expire on 1 -3 -1985 whereas stay was obtained on 13 -2 -1985.

(3.) The expression 'at the time of retrenchment' appearing in clause (b) of Sec. 25 -F of the Act means that the workmen must be paid at the time of retrenchment and that is the crucial point of time. Since retrenchment in this case was to take effect from 1 -3 -1985 and before the period of notice could expire, the operation of Annexures 13 and 13 -A was stayed, it is not open for the petitioners to contend that there was no compliance of the statutory conditions of Sec. 25 -F (b) of the Act.