( 1 ) THE petitioner No. 1. The Rewa Coal Fields Limited owns Burhar and Amlai collieries in Madhya Pradesh. The petitioner No. 2 is the Managing Agent of the petitioner No. 1. The Petitioners by this petition under Article 226 of the constitution challenge a reference of an industrial dispute between them and their workmen made by the Central Government under Section 10 of the Industrial disputes Act, 1947.

( 2 ) IT seems that the petitioners dismissed seventeen of their workmen with effect from 9th June, 1964. An industrial dispute was raised on behalf of the workmen before the Conciliation Officer. No settlement was arrived at and the Conciliation officer reported the matter to the Central Government. The Government, however, declined to refer the dispute to any tribunal. This order was made on 16th June, 1965 under Section 12 (5) of the Act, and it is stated in it that the government of India do not consider the dispute fit for reference to an Industrial tribunal for adjudication because the workmen were dismissed for proved misconduct. It is further stated in it that the union failed to substantiate the allegation of victimisation. Then on 19th March 1966, the Government made the order, which is impugned in this petition and by which the dispute was referred for adjudication to the Industrial Tribunal, Bombay. The dispute, which is mentioned in the schedule to this order is, whether the dismissal of seventeen workmen, (Whose names are given in the schedule) with effect from 9th June, 1964 was justified, and if not, to what relief are they entitled.

( 3 ) IN this petition, the challenge to the impugned order is on the ground that an order of the Government declining to refer a dispute for adjudication to Industrial tribunal is final and the same dispute cannot be made subject-matter ol reference by another order.

( 4 ) THE point raised relates to the ambit and scope of Sub-section (1) of Section 10 of the Industrial Disputes Act The sub-section is worded in wide language and enables the appropriate Government to make a reference at any time when it is of opinion that any industrial dispute exists or is apprehended. The power conferred by this section is administrative in nature, and therefore, the principles applicable to the exercise of judicial or quasi-judicial powers cannot be applied for construing the section. In case of a judicial power, once that power is exercised and a dispute is decided, the decision operates as res judicata and cannot be reviewed at a subsequent stage unless a power of review is specifically conferred by statute. But in case of an administrative power, the doctrine of res judicata has no application and an order made in the exercise of that power can be reviewed by the same authority. It, therefore, cannot be said that if the appropriate Government refuses to make a reference at one stage, it cannot thereafter change its mind and make a reference for adjudication of the dispute. There is yet another way of looking at the sub-section. The sub-section only speaks of an order referring the dispute; it does not speak of an order refusing to make a reference. The sub-section only enables the appropriate Government to make a reference of an industrial dispute for adjudication to appropriate Tribunal. When- the Government declines to make a reference, it docs not exercise any power under the sub-section rather it refuses to exercise the power conferred by the sub-section. The exercise of power under the sub-section takes place only when a reference is made. It cannot, therefore, be said that the power conferred by the sub-section is exhausted by refusing to make a reference, and cannot again be exercised by ordering that a reference be made. The view, that we have taken, is supported by a number of cases; Panipat Woollen and General Mills Co. v. Industrial Tribunal, 1962-1 Lab LJ 555 (Punj), L. H. Sugar Factories and Oil Mills v. State of U. P. , 1963-1 Lab LJ 340 (All); Vasudeo rao v. State