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2017 Supreme(Ori) 221

IN THE HIGH COURT OF ORISSA, CUTTACK
B.R. SARANGI, J.
Food Corporation of India and others - Petitioners
Versus
Debendra Ram - Opposite Party
RVWPET No. 202 of 2015
Decided On : 27-02-2017

Advocates:
Advocate Appeared:
For the Petitioners: M/s. A.N. Routray & M. Routray
For the Opposite Party : M/s. Janmejaya Katikia, A. Mohanty, S. Swain, D. Jena, B. Mishra

Headnote:1. LIMITATION ACT, 1963 - Sec. 5 - Review of the judgment before the learned Single Judge - Delay of 306 days has been caused in preferring the review application - Condonation of delay - No case is made out indicating "sufficient cause" for condonation of delay - Court not inclined to condone the delay caused in preferring the review application at a belated stage - Application dismissed for want of "sufficient cause".(Para - 6)

        2. CONSTITUTION OF INDIA, 1950 - Art. 226 - Review - Nothing in the article to preclude a High Court from exercising the power of review which inheres in every Court of plenary jurisdiction to prevent mis-carriage of justice or to correct grave and palpable errors committed by it - There are limitations to the exercise of the power of review - The same could be execised on the discovery of new and important matters or evidence which, after the exercise of due diligence was not within the knowledge of the persons seeking the review, or could not be produced by him at the time when the order was made - It may also be exercised where some mistake or error apparent on the face of the record was found, or on any analogous ground - But it may not be exercised on the ground that the decision was erroneous on merits -That would be the province of a Court of appeal and the power of review is not to be confused with appellate power which may enable an appellate Court to correct all manner of errors committed by the subordinate Court. (Para - 8)

       

JUDGMENT :

B.R. Sarangi, J.

The writ petitioner, opposite party herein, was engaged as an Ancillary Worker under Food Corporation of India (FCI) F.S. Depot, Dhenkanal, pursuant to which he joined on 06.07.1992. Accordingly an Identity Card was issued by the District Manager of the Corporation registering him an Ancillary Worker having registration no. 182. He was also enrolled as a member of a registered trade union. He was critically ill and was advised complete bed rest and medical certificate in support of his illness was produced. After he was found fit, a joining report was submitted on 10.06.1999, but the same was not accepted. Consequentially, he made representation on 28.06.1999 to allow him to discharge his duty as before and he was directed to resume duty. But when he went to join on 22.11.1999, his joining was refused. Thereafter he submitted his jointing report on 26.11.1999 by registered post with A.D. Since no action was taken, he approached this Court by filing OJC No. 3706 of 2000. In the said writ petition it was contended that, non-allowing the writ petitioner to join or resume the duty, would amount to termination, which was in gross violation of the provisions of the Industrial Disputes Act, as well as principles of natural justice. Pursuant to notice issued on 25.08.2000, learned counsel for opposite parties entered appearance by filing vakalatnama, but did not choose to file counter affidavit to rebut the contention raised in the writ petition. Therefore, after long lapse of 15 years, when the matter was heard by this Court, in absence of any counter, applying the doctrine of non-traverse, this Court allowed the writ application by judgment dated 27.02.2015 by holding that non-acceptance of the joining report of the writ petitioner by the authority was arbitrary, unreasonable and contrary to the provisions of Industrial Disputes Act, as well as violative of principles of natural justice and the petitioner would be deemed to be continuing in service with effect from his date of joining, i.e., 22.11.1999 and would be entitled to get all consequential benefits admissible in accordance with law.

2. Against the said judgment dated 27.02.2015, the review petitioners, who were the opposite parties in the writ application, filed Writ Appeal No. 164 of 2015 and a Division Bench of this Court disposed of the said writ appeal by passing the following order :

“The pleadings made in the writ appeal as well as the submissions made before this Court appears to be not available before the leaned Single Judge for consideration even though the matter was pending for 15 years in this Court. The learned Single Judge has passed the judgment based on the materials available on record. The materials produced in support of the appellants also appear to have been procured after the disposal of the writ petition and thus was not available for consideration of the learned Single Judge.

Under the circumstances, we don’t find any illegality in the impugned judgment passed by the learned Single Judge.”

The Division Bench of this Court, as did not find any illegality in the judgment passed by the learned Single Judge, was declined to entertain the writ appeal and by order dated 22.09.2015 dismissed the same summarily, but, however, made an observation that it would be open for the appellant therein (review petitioners) to file an appropriate application for review of the judgment before the learned Single Judge. In view of the observation made in order dated 22.09.2015 passed in the writ appeal, the review petitioner has filed this application on 02.11.2015 for review of the judgment dated 27.02.2015 passed in OJC No. 3706 of 2000.

3. The Review application has been filed at a belated stage on expiry of 336 days. Excluding the limitation period of 30 days, the delay of 306 days has been caused in preferring the review application. Therefore, a miscellaneous application (Misc. Case No. 207 of 2015) has been filed under Section 5 of the Limitat
















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