Judgment

GUPTA, J.:- This is an appeal by special leave from an award made by the Industrial Tribunal, Bombay, on December 9, 1976 in Reference No. 307 of 1968 directing reinstatement of twelve workmen dismissed by the appellant, Firestone Tyre and Rubber Company of India Private Limited. The appellant company carries on the business of manufacturing tyres, tubes and several other products in Bombay. Disputes arose between the management and the workmen employed in the companys tyre curing department leading to a strike by these workmen from March 3, 1967. This strike was called off an May 15, 1967, according to workmen on certain assurances given by the Commissioner of Labour. The case of the management is that even after the workmen resumed work, they adopted a deliberate go-slow policy resulting in fall in production. On September 14, 1967 the management put up a notice asking the workmen to desist from continuing with the go-slow tactics. The notice however had no effect and from October 4, 1967 the workmen working in the tyre curing department again went on a strike.

2. Between October 27 and 31, 1967 the management issued charge-sheets to 102 workmen alleging that they had reso