Judgment

MITTER, J. :- The main question in these two appeals by certificate is, whether the Labour Court had jurisdiction to entertain the application for lay-off compensation under S. 33-C (2) of the Industrial Disputes Act. The appellant in the first appeal is a limited company which is now under liquidation while the appellant in the second is a partnership firm, the respondents in the two appeals being the Labour Court and different groups of workmen.

2. The facts are as follows. In Hinganghat there was a textile mill known as R. B. Bansilal Abirchand Mills which used to employ about 1000 men. The mill was owned by the firm, the appellant in the second appeal. A fire broke out in the mill on March 27, 1959 doing appreciable damage to some of the machines. The employers put up a notice under their Standing Order No. 19 on March 28, 1959 to the effect that the fire of the previous night had caused heavy loss and extensive damage to the departments rendering the mill s working impracticable until necessary repairs and adjustments were carried out. The employees were however to note that the folding and workshop departments would continue to work as usual and notice of resumption of