IMPORTANT POINT
Every party to lis has right to contest case on merits subject to certain well known exceptions provided in law.

JUDGMENT :

ABHAY MANOHAR SAPRE, J.

1. These appeals are directed against the final judgment and order dated 21.11.2005 passed by the High Court of Judicature for Rajasthan at Jaipur Bench, Jaipur in D.B. Civil Special Appeal No.449 of 1999 whereby the Division Bench of the High Court allowed the appeal filed by the respondent herein and the order dated 10.04.2007 whereby the review petition filed by the appellant herein was dismissed.

2. A few facts need mention hereinbelow in brief to appreciate the controversy involved in these appeals.

3. On 26.07.1989, the State Government made a reference under Section 10(1) of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 to the Industrial Tribunal, Kota for deciding the following disputes which read as under:

“Whether the demands raised in the demand letters by the Secretary, Zila Petrol Pump Mazdoor Sangh before the Manager, Maheshwari Automobiles Corporation, District Bundi, are just and valid? If yes, to what reliefs the workmen are entitled to?
DEMANDS
1. The difference between the amount which has been declared by the Government and the actual amount which has been paid by the Management, which has not been paid so far, be treated as deferred wages and paid to the workmen in the form of exgratia payment and this difference should be more than 20% of the salaries being received by the workmen;
2. All workmen should be given 15 days casual leaves in a year.
3. 11 holidays be given every year for National Holidays and other festivals. Three times payment be paid to the workmen for work taken from them in the year 1986 on such holidays;
4. Workmen should be designated/defined accordingly to their nature of work, i.e., skilled, semiskilled and unskilled, so that they receive salary according to their category;
5. All the workmen be given annual salary increments;
6. All the workmen be given dearness allowance in accordance with price index;
7. All workmen be paid 10% of their pay towards rent allowance;
8. Free medicines be provided to all the workmen and prescribed medical allowance be given to them;
9. Provident Fund Scheme be prepared for the workmen and deductions be made accordingly;
10. Education Fee be given to workmen for studies of their children;
11. At least two cotton uniforms every year and one woolen uniform every two years be provided to all the workmen.
”

4. By award dated 31.07.1995 (Annexure-P2), the Industrial Tribunal, Kota answered the reference on merits in respondent's favour. It is, however, not in dispute that the Industrial Tribunal decided the reference ex parte against the appellant. In Para 4 of the award, the Tribunal noted that the appellant(respondent therein) did not appear despite notice served on them and hence they are proceeded ex parte.

5. The appellant, on coming to know of the passing of the award, filed the writ petition in the High Court of Rajasthan at Jaipur (W.P. No. 5294/1996. By order dated 10.09.1997, the Single Judge allowed the writ petition and set aside the award.

6. The respondent, therefore, felt aggrieved and filed writ appeal (No.449/1999) before the Division Bench of the High Court. By impugned order, the Division Bench allowed the respondent's appeal and set aside the order of the Single Judge. The impugned order was passed in appellant’s absence because none appeared for the appellant (respondent in appeal) before the Division Bench when the appeal was heard. Aggrieved by the said order, the appellant filed the review petition, which was dismissed by the Division Bench of the High Court.

7. Against the orders passed by the High Court in the writ appeal and the review petition, the appellant has filed the present appeals by way of special leave appeal in this Court.

8. Having heard the learned counsel for the parties and on perusal of the record of the case including the written submission filed on behalf of respondent, we are inclined to allow the appeals, set aside the impugned order and also set aside the ex parte award of the Industrial Tribunal and remand the