1994 Supreme(Raj) 522
Rajasthan High Court
Honble N.K. Jain & RAJENDRA Saxena, JJ.
Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation - Appellant
Versus
Mool Singh and Another - Respondents
D.B. Civil Special Appeal No. 180 of 1990
Decided On : November 25, 1994
Not available
Headnote:Constitution of India — Article 226 and Industrial Dispute Act, 1947 — Section 11-A—Labour Court took a lineant view and inspite of finding petitioner guilty ordered his re-instatement, to give him chance for improving — Labour Court is emprowered toaward lesser punishment but its discretion should not be unguided or unchannelised or arbitrary — Petitioner had been punished twice prior to this — Held — Petitioner deserves no sympathy. (Paras 12 and 13)
(2). The writ petition No.148/91 has been filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India by the workman Mool Singh against the award of the leearned Judge, Labour Court, Jodhpur dated, 20.4.1990 whereby while holding the workman Mool Singh guilty of the charge of misconduct he has reinstated the workman in service.
(3). Since both these matters are arising out of the same award, they are being disposed of by this common judgment.
(4). The facts which are necessary to be noticed for the disposal of the said mailers are that the workman Mool Singh was working under the employment of the appellant Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation (hereinafter referred to as the appellant Corporation) as Conductor since 12.1.1980. On a sudden checking made by the officers of the appellant Corporation on 27.10. 1983, Fourteen fourteen passengers were found travelling without ticket in the bus . As alleged by the Corporation, from 12 passengers out of 14 without tickat passengers, the workman Mool Singh had already recovered fare but did not issue tickets and from two passengers even fare was got recovered by the Traffic Inspectors. A charge-sheet was served upon the workman and departmental enquiry was also held. In the departmental enquiry, the charge Levelled against the workman was found to be proved and the workman was removed from service on 20.9.1984. A dispute was raised by the workman which was referred to the Labour Court and the Labour Court after considering the material on record came to the conclusion that the domestic enquiry was not fair and that finding arrived at in the enquiry was not sustainable as enquiry report was not furnished to the workman Mool Singh and quashed the enquiry proceedings vide Anx. 6 dt. 27.3.1989. Thereafter vide Anx. 11.dt. 2.4.1990, the learned Judge, Labour Court, Udaipur passed the award holding the workman Mool Singh guilty of the charge that in the checking made on 27.10.1983, 14 passengers were found without ticket. but concidering the punishment of removal from service excessive reinstated him in service. Dissatisfied with the award,the Cor-poration filed a writ petition challenging the reinstatement which was dismissed by the learned Single Judge vide order dt. 21.8.1990. Hence, the Corporation has come up in special appeal before us. On the other hand the workman Mool Singh also filed a writ petition No.148/91 on 19.12.1990 challenging the award to the extent of holding him guilty of the charge and the same is pending admission.
(5). The Special Appeal No.180/90 has been filed on 6.10.1990 and this court while admitting the same stayed the operation of the award dt.2.4.1990 so also the operation of the order of the learned Single Judge till further orders. Thereafter on 25.7.1994, the workman Mool Singh moved an application u/s. 17-B of the Industrial Disputes Act,1947 stating that in compliance of the award , he was taken back on duty on 22.5.1990 and he was removed from service on 15.7.1994 and thereafter he is not employed anywhere. The applicant prayed that the appellant may be directed either to reinstate the petitioner in service and/or to make him payment of full wages last drawn inclusive of maintenance allowance. The case came up on 27.7..1994 before a Division Bench of this court and it was ordered that cross S.B.C.Writ Petition No.148/91 may also be listed for hearing. Thus, both these matters have come up before us on the application u/s.l7-B of the I.D.Act and as agreed by the learned counsel for the parties they are heard finally and, therefore, it is not necessary to pass any order on the application u/s. 17-B.
(6). Mr. Sangect Lodha, learned counsel for the petitioner w