An employee's failure to participate in disciplinary proceedings and present a defense undermines any subsequent claims of justification for absence, leading to the affirmation of dismissal.

JUDGMENT

1. Smt.H.R.Renuka., learned counsel on behalf of Sri.Hareesh Bhandary.T., for the petitioner and Sri.M.C.Basavaraj., learned counsel for the respondent have appeared in person.

2. The brief facts are these:

The respondent was appointed and working as a Driver in the establishment of the Corporation. He remained absent unauthorizedly without submitting leave letter or obtaining prior permission from 16/6/2011 onwards till 20/6/2013. The Assistant Transport Inspector taking note of the unauthorized absent, submitted a report to the Depot Manager on 26/7/2011. On 27/7/2011, a call notice was issued to the respondent calling upon him to report to duty. The Depot Manager submitted a detailed report to the Superiors of the Corporation on 7/8/2011. Based on the Depot Manager's report, Articles of charge was issued along with imputation, documents, list of witnesses. The disciplinary authority appointed an inquiry officer. The inquiry officer submitted his findings holding that the charges are proved. The disciplinary authority issued second show cause notice. The disciplinary authority considering the domestic inquiry report, materials and the past conduct of the respondent, dismissed him from service vide order dtd.:20/6/2013.

As things stood thus, the respondent raised a dispute before the I Addl. Labour Court, Bengaluru in Reference No.39/2015. The Labour Court held that the domestic inquiry conducted by the Corporation was fair and proper. The Labour Court vide award dtd.:2/3/2017 set-aside the order of dismissal and directed the Corporation to reinstate the respondent without backwages, but entitled to get all benefits with continuity of service. It is this award that is called into question in this Writ Petition on several grounds as set-out in the Memorandum of Writ Petition.

3. Learned counsel for the petitioner and the respondent have urged several contentions. Heard, the contentions urged on behalf of the respective parties and perused the Writ papers and also the records with utmost care.

4. The point that requires consideration is whether the award of the Labour Court requires interference.

5. The facts are sufficiently stated and do not require reiteration. The respondent came under a disciplinary inquiry proceedings for the act of misconduct i.e., unauthorized absence and was visited with an order of punishment i.e., dismissed from service.

6. The issue revolves around the act of misconduct i.e., unauthorized absence from 16/6/2011 till 20/6/2013. It is pivotal to note that the workman remained ex-parte before the inquiry proceedings. However, he furnished certain medical documents before the Labour Court for the first time. Ex.W series relates to prescriptions and medical certificates. The Labour Court took note of the medical documents and concluded that sufficient cause is shown for remaining absent. This is unsustainable in law. The reason is apparent. As already noted above, the workman remained absent before the inquiry proceedings. The medical documents furnished for the first time before the Labour Court pertains to the absence period. Nothing prevented the workman from furnishing the same before the inquiry officer to justify the case of unauthorized absence. Instead of doing so, for the first time, he furnished the medical prescriptions and certificates before the Labour Court. The Labour Court has failed to appreciate the fact that nothing prevented the workman to participate in the inquiry proceedings and furnish the medical documents to defend his case.

Furthermore, this Court vide order dtd.:7/6/2022, directed the Corporation to reinstate the workman into service. Taking note of the order, the Corporation issued Call letters on 16/7/2022 and 10/8/2022 calling upon the respondent to report to duty and issued an endorsement on 30/8/2022. He did not report to duty.

An attempt is made on behalf of the respondent that he had suffered an injury and hence, he requested the Corporation to accord him a ligh