IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE FOR RAJASTHAN BENCH AT JAIPUR
ANOOP KUMAR DHAND, J.
Daikin Air Conditioning Mazdoor Union, Through Its President, Resident Care Of Rukmudin S/o Nasru Khan – Appellant
Versus
M/s Daikin Air Conditioning India Private Limited – Respondent
S.B. Civil Writ Petition No. 8994 of 2019
Decided on : 05-10-2023
Trade Union Act - Registration of Union - Indian Trade Union Act, 1926 - Section 11, Section 9(I) of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 - Section 10 of the Trade Union Act, 1926
Fact of the Case:
The petitioner Union applied for registration under the Indian Trade Union Act, 1926. The respondent Company challenged the registration certificate before the Industrial Tribunal. The petitioner filed an application for rejection of the appeal, arguing that it was not maintainable under the law. The Tribunal rejected the application, leading to the present petition.
Finding of the Court:
The Court found that the appeal under Section 11 of the Act of 1926 and Section 9(I) of the Act of 1947 was not maintainable as the registration certificate was not refused, withdrawn, or cancelled. Pursuing two parallel remedies for the same subject matter was not permissible.
Issues: Whether the appeal was maintainable under the law and whether two parallel remedies could be pursued for the same subject matter.
Ratio Decidendi: The Court held that the appeal was not maintainable as the registration certificate was not refused, withdrawn, or cancelled. Pursuing two parallel remedies for the same subject matter was impermissible and amounted to an abuse of the process of law.
Final Decision: The petition was allowed, the impugned order was quashed, and the appeal filed by the respondent was dismissed as not maintainable. The respondent was allowed to pursue the application under Section 10 of the Act of 1926 before the Registrar, Trade Union. Each party was to bear its own costs.
ORDER :
1. Instant petition has been filed by the petitioner against the impugned order dated 03.04.2019 passed by the Industrial Tribunal cum Labour Court, Alwar in Appeal No.01/2018 by which application filed by the petitioner Union under order 7 Rule 11 CPC has been rejected.
Submissions by the petitioner:
2. Counsel for the petitioner Union submits that the petitioner Union submitted an application for registration of their Union under the provisions of Indian Trade Union Act, 1926 (for short ‘the Act of 1926) and the said application was allowed and the petitioner was declared as registered Union by the Additional Registrar, Trade Union by issuing certificate on 29.08.2018. Counsel submits that feeling aggrieved and dissatisfied by the said certificate dated 29.08.2018 the respondent Company submitted an application under Section 10 of the Act of 1926 which is still pending for adjudication before the Additional Registrar. Counsel submits that in pursuance of such application by respondent Company a notice was issued by Additional Registrar to petitioner Union on 12.09.2018 and the petitioner Union assailed the order of issuance of notice before this Court by way of filing SB Civil Writ Petition No.22454/2018 wherein an interim order was passed on 03.10.2018 and the respondents were restrained to take any proceedings pursuant to the show cause notice dated 12.09.2018. Counsel submits that concealing the above fact the respondent Company submitted an appeal under Section 11 of the Act of 1926 before the Industrial Tribunal challenging the same registration certificate dated 29.08.2018. Counsel submits that appeal under Section 11 of the Act of 1926 was not maintainable, hence under these circumstances, the petitioner Union submitted an application under Order 7 Rule 11 CPC for rejection of the said appeal as the same was barred by law. Counsel submits that the Tribunal has rejected the said application vide impugned order dated 03.04.2019 indicating therein that a mix question of fact and law is involved. Counsel submits that no disputed questions of facts were involved and only a pure question of law with regard to maintainability of appeal under Section 11 of the Act of 1926 is involved, hence the Tribunal has committed an error in rejecting the said application vide impugned order dated 03.04.2019. Counsel submits that under these circumstances, interference of this Court is warranted.
Submissions by the respondents:
3. Per contra, learned counsel for the respondent Company opposed the arguments raised by the counsel for the petitioner Union and submitted that the appeal was submitted by the respondent Company not only under Section 11 of the Act of 1926 but the same was also submitted with the aid of Section 9 (I) of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 (for short ‘the Act of 1947’). Counsel submits that the appeal under Section 9 (I) of the Act of 1947 is maintainable against any order passed by the Registrar, hence the respondents have not caused any illegality in filing appeal before the Tribunal against the order dated 29.08.2018 by which the petitioner Union was declared as registered Trade Union under Section 9 of the Act of 1926. Counsel submits that disputed questions of fact and law are involved and the appeal filed by the respondent Company was not barred by any of the provisions of law hence, the Tribunal has not committed an error in rejecting the application filed by the petitioner under Order 7 Rule 11 CPC. Counsel submits that the order passed by the Tribunal is just and proper which needs no interference of this Court.
Analysis and Reasoning:
4. Heard and considered the submissions made at the Bar and perused the material available on the record.
5. Admittedly, the petitioner Union applied for its registration under Section 9 of the Act of 1926 before the Labour Department, Government of Rajasthan and the Additional Registrar cum Divisional Joint Labour Commissioner, Jaipur passed an order on 29.08.2018 and regist
Arunima Baruah Vs. Union of India (UOI) and Ors. reported in 2007 (6) SCC 120
Point of law: If the Registrar is satisfied that the certificate is obtained by fraud or mistake or the Union has ceased to exist, is not the circumstance here and further has willfully and after not....
An appeal under Section 11 of the Trade Unions Act, 1926 is maintainable only against refusal of registration or cancellation of registration, not against a refusal to cancel.
Termination from service - Misconduct – As per provisions of ID Act at a time when Union had continued to enjoy its corporate body status cannot be said to be in any manner vitiated merely because Un....
Mixed questions of law and fact in labor disputes should be resolved during final hearings, not as preliminary issues.
The principle of natural justice, including the right to be heard and reasoned decision-making, influenced the court's decision in setting aside the non-speaking cancellation order.
The court established that the Registrar of Trade Unions cannot resolve internal disputes of a union and that aggrieved parties must seek civil court remedies.
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