JUDGMENT

Thomas, J.-Leave granted.

2. A period of fifteen years is apparently too long a range, even for a Government to make reference of industrial dispute for adjudication. At the first blush it looks inordinate a delay and so was felt by the High Court of Allahabad which consequently quashed the reference order passed by the Government solely on the ground of such delay. The aggrieved workman has therefore approached this Court challenging the aforesaid judgment of the High Court. According to him the High Court should not have bypassed the explanation offered by him as to why the Government did not make a reference earlier.

3. Appellant was appointed as a clerk on 1.1.1974 in the Electricity Distribution Division, Mathura of the U.P. State Electricity Board (for short the Board ). But his services were terminated on 17.7.1975. He raised an industrial dispute that the termination of his services was illegal. The State Government by an order dated 29.3.1993 referred the following dispute to the Labour Court for adjudication as per Section 4-K of the UP Industrial Disputes Act (for short the UP Act ) :

"Whether termination of the appellant on 17.7.1975 by the employer was proper an