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2008 Supreme(Del) 297

High Court of Delhi
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE S. RAVINDRA BHAT
M/s. Superior Crafts - Appellant
Versus
Centre of Indian Trade Unions & Others - Respondents
CS(OS) 627 of 2006
Decided on : 10-03-2008

Advocates appeared:
For the Plaintiff:Ravi Kant Chadha, Sr. Advocate, Manshi Chadha, Advocate.

The central legal point established in the judgment is the need for peaceful exercise of rights by trade unions and the prohibition of disruptive or violent demonstrations near the employer's premises.

Headnote:

Trade Union - Injunction - Trade Unions Act, 1926, Industrial Disputes Act - [Trade Unions Act, 1926 - Section 18, Industrial Disputes Act] - The court discussed the right to hold strikes and seek enforcement of terms and conditions of employment, emphasizing the need for peaceful exercise of such rights and the prohibition of violent or intimidating demonstrations. The court also highlighted the balance between the rights of the union and the employer, and the permissible distance for peaceful demonstrations.

Fact of the Case:

The plaintiff, an export oriented partnership firm, sought a permanent injunction against the defendants, a registered trade union and its members, to restrain them from holding demonstrations, dharnas, and causing hooliganism near the plaintiff's premises. The plaintiff alleged various instances of illegal strikes, hooliganism, and disruption of business by the defendants.

Finding of the Court:

The court found that the plaintiff had proven its case and was entitled to the reliefs sought. It held that while the defendants had the right to peaceful demonstration outside the plaintiff's premises, they could not disrupt the plaintiff's business or block ingress and egress of employees and visitors.

Issues: The issues involved the defendants' actions of holding demonstrations, dharnas, and hooliganism near the plaintiff's premises, and the plaintiff's entitlement to a permanent injunction against such activities.

Ratio Decidendi: The court held that while the defendants had the right to peaceful demonstration, they could not disrupt the plaintiff's business. It emphasized the need for peaceful exercise of rights and the prohibition of violent or intimidating demonstrations. The court also determined the permissible distance for peaceful demonstrations.

Final Decision: The court decreed a permanent injunction restraining the defendants from holding disruptive demonstrations or dharnas near the plaintiff's premises, allowing peaceful demonstrations beyond a range of 50 meters from the outer radius of the plaintiff's premises.

Judgment :

S. Ravindra Bhat: J. (Open Court)

1. Theplaintiff claims the following reliefs: a) Pass a decree of permanent injunction in favour of the plaintiff and against the defendants thereby restraining and prohibiting the defendants, their agents, members, associates etc. from holding any demonstrations, dharnas, gherao, slogan shouting and causing hooliganism at least 100 mts. from the premises bearing No. D-12,13, Udyog Nagar, Peera Garhi, New Delhi, 561/2, Swaran Park, Mundka, New Delhi and A-I/11 and B-5/11, Safdarjung Enclave, New Delhi; b) Direct the SHO of the concerned areas for the compliance of the order; c) Any other relief as the Hon'ble Court may deem fit and proper in the facts and circumstances of the case.

2. Theplaintiff's averments are that it is an export oriented partnership firm having its registered office at D 13, Udyog Nagar, Peera Garhi, Delhi. Defendant No.1 is a registered trade union. The other defendants are its office bearers and members.

3. The plaintiff adverts to an incident dated 10.3.2006 whereby the defendants manhandled and misbehaved with a lady employee and when she called the police authorities they allegedly assaulted the police official further avers that certain employees of the firm resorted to an illegal strike and forcibly stopped the other employees from attending the office on 13.3.2006 thus effectively blockading the factory premises. The plaintiff advised the defendants to resume their duties through its legal notice dated 13.3.2006 but all in vain. It is alleged that the defendant on 14.3.2006 sent a letter to the plaintiff demanding that the suspended workers who had been lodged in Tihar Jail be marked on leave in its records. The plaintiff avers to further acts of illegal demonstrations, dharnas etc. on 31.3.2006 where acts of hooliganism were resorted by the defendants and also a demonstration held on 20.4.2006. Under these circumstances, the plaintiff seeks a decree against the defendants restraining the defendants, their agents, members, associates etc. from holding any demonstrations, dharnas, gherao, slogan shouting and causing hooliganism.

4. The Court issued summons in the suit and also restrained the defendants through an ex-parte order from holding demonstrations, dharnas, gherao etc. within a distance of 100 meters of the plaintiff's premises on 18.4.2006.

5. The defendants are un represented and were proceeded ex-parte on 7th July, 2006 and 21st May, 2007. In the meanwhile, after the issuance of the initial interim order, the plaintiff moved an application (I.A. 8862/2006) complaining that despite the ex-parte injunction, the defendants were violating the Court's order. On 23rd August, 2006, the Court directed the SHO, Nangloi to compliance and enforcement of the order of this Court.

6. Theplaintiff has, in support of its case relied upon the affidavit of Mr. Subhash Chachra dated 10th October, 2007. The said witness PW-1 affirmed the contents of this affidavit in a statement recorded on 24.12.2008. PW-1 has generally deposed in support of the plaint averments. He alleges about an incident concerning Ms. Asha Sharma by one of the defendants Suresh Babu. He has marked a copy of the complaint dated 10.3.2006 as Ex. PW-1/1. The witness is also marked a copy of the First Information Report to the police regarding the incident on the same day, as Ex. PW-1/2. PW-1 has further adverted to the same incident and its reporting to the Assistant Labour Commissioner by letter Ex. PW-1/3. In support of the case that illegal strikes and slogan shouting and other acts of misbehaviour took place, the plaintiff has relied through PW-1 on documents Ex. PW-1/4, PW-1/5 and PW-1/6.

7. The witness has also deposed that despite this Court's order restraining the defendants from holding demonstrations and dharna, in a blatant show of defiance they are indulging themselves in the contemptuous act of flouting the directions of the Court dated 29.7.2006. Certain photographs have also prod












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