HIGH COURT OF CALCUTTA
D. N. Sinha, G. K. Mitter
REGISTRAR OF TRADE UNIONS, WEST BENGAL - Appellant
Versus
MIHIR KUMAR GOOHA - Respondent
Appeal 98 Of 1961
Decided On : AUGUST 22, 1962
TRADE UNION - REGISTRATION - EMPLOYEES' STATE INSURANCE CORPORATION - WHETHER A TRADE OR INDUSTRY - EMPLOYEES WHETHER WORKMEN - INTERPRETATION OF SECTIONS 2 (G), 6 (E) AND 22 OF THE TRADE UNIONS ACT, 1926.
Fact of the Case:
The Employees' State Insurance Corporation, established under the Employees' State Insurance Act, 1948, applied for registration of a Trade Union under the Trade Unions Act, 1926. The Registrar of Trade Unions initially granted the registration but later cancelled it on the grounds that the Corporation was not a 'trade' or 'industry' and its employees were not 'workmen' under Section 2 (g) of the Act. The Union appealed to the High Court, which allowed the appeal and set aside the cancellation order.
Finding of the Court:
The High Court held that the scope of the Trade Unions Act is wide and includes all that which falls within the meaning of the expressions 'trade', 'industry' or 'business'. The Court interpreted the definition of 'workmen' in Section 2 (g) to include all persons employed in trade or industry, and found that the Employees' State Insurance Corporation, which provides medical and other benefits to insured persons and their families, falls within the ambit of 'industry'. The Court also held that the employees of the Corporation are 'workmen' as defined in the Act.
Issues: 1. Whether the Employees' State Insurance Corporation is a 'trade' or 'industry' within the meaning of the Trade Unions Act, 1926? 2. Whether the employees of the Corporation are 'workmen' as defined in Section 2 (g) of the Act?
Ratio Decidendi: 1. The Court interpreted the expressions 'trade', 'industry' and 'business' used in the Trade Unions Act in a wide sense, considering their ordinary and legal usage. It referred to the dicta of Lord Wright in National Association of Local Government Officers v. Bolton Corporation, where 'trade' was defined as a term of the widest scope, encompassing various occupations and professions. 2. The Court examined the objects and activities of the Employees' State Insurance Corporation under the Employees' State Insurance Act, 1948. It found that the Corporation provides medical and other benefits to insured persons and their families, and that it employs a large number of employees to carry out its functions. The Court held that these activities fall within the ambit of 'industry' as defined in the Trade Unions Act.
Final Decision: The High Court dismissed the appeal, upholding the decision of the lower court that the Employees' State Insurance Corporation is a 'trade' or 'industry' and its employees are 'workmen' within the meaning of the Trade Unions Act, 1926.
( 1 ) THIS is an appeal, against an order made by Mitra, J. , on the 19th September, 1960 by which he allowed an appeal under Section 11 of the Indian Trade Unions Act, 1926 against the order of the Registrar of Trade Unions, West Bengal, cancelling the certificate of Registration No. 3487 granted to the Employees' State insurance Corporation Employee's Union. The facts are shortly as follows : The Employees' State Insurance Corporation came into existence under the provisions of a Central Act, namely, the Employees' State Insurance Act (Act No. XXIV of 1948 ). It is art Act to provide for certain benefits to employees in case of sickness, maternity and 'employment injury' and to make provisions for certain other matters in relation thereto. At a meeting of (the employees of ft the Employees' State Insurance Corporation, held on the 7th June, 1956 it was resolved to form a Trade Union of their own. This Trade Union made an application for registration under the Indian Trade Unions Act, 1926. On or about the 28th August, 1956 the Registrar of Trade Unions, West Bengal, certified that the union had been registered under the said Act, the certificate number being 3847. On or about the 20th November, 1957 the Registrar issued notice to the Secretary of the Union that it was his intention to cancel the registration of the said Trade Union on the following grounds, unless cause was shown to the contrary. (1) That the certificate had been obtained by mistake and it was wrongly mentioned in the application that the Employees' State Insurance Corporation was a 'profession'. (2) That the Employees' Slate insurance Corporation could not be regarded as 'trade' or 'industry' and the Employees therefore could not be regarded as 'workmen' under Section 2 (g) of the Indian Trade Unions Act, 1926.
( 2 ) THE Union showed cause. On the 20th March, 1958 the Registrar cancelled the certificate of Registration No. 3847 with effect from the 28th February, 1958. Against the said order of the Registrar, the Union preferred an appeal under Section 11 (1) (a) of the Trade Unions Act. This was how Mitra, J. came to consider the matter. To learned Judge allowed the appeal and set aside the order of the Registrar cancelling the certificate of Registration No. 3847 and directed each party to bear and pay-its own cost. This appeal has been directed against the said order.
( 3 ) I must mention here a preliminary objection that has been taken in this appeal. It is, that an appeal does not lie. That an appeal does not lie under the Trade Unions Act is quite clear. As I have stated above, an appeal lies from the decision of the Registrar to the High Court under Section 11 (1) (a ). But against the decision of the High Court no further appeal has been provided under the Act. It has been argued however, that an appeal lies under Clause 15 of the Letters Patent. Two objections have been taken in respect of such appeal. Firstly, it is said that the judgment of Mitra, J. was itself passed in the exercise of appellate jurisdiction, and therefore, is not appealable, and secondly, there was no declaration by the learned Judge that the case was a fit one for appeal. In my opinion, there is no substance in this argument. A judgment passed in the exercise of appellate jurisdiction is excluded, where it is in respect of a decree or order passed by a court subject to the superintendence of the High Court. That is not the case here, because the Registrar of Trade Unions is not a 'court subject to the superintendence of the High Court'. That an appeal lies under Clause 15 of the Letters. Patent is clear from the Supreme Court decision National Sewing Thread Co. Ltd. Chidambaram v. James Chadwick and Bros, Ltd. That was a case under the Trade Marks Act 1940. The appellants there made an application to the Registrar of Trade Marks at Bombay for the registration of their mark 'vulture Brand', under the Trade Marks Act, 1940. This was opposed. The Registrar refused re
Login now and unlock free premium legal research
Login to SupremeToday AI and access free legal analysis, AI highlights, and smart tools.
Login
now!
India’s Legal research and Law Firm App, Download now!
Copyright © 2023 Vikas Info Solution Pvt Ltd. All Rights Reserved.