IN THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND AT RANCHI W.P.(L) No. 1141 of 2025 ….…..

Management of M/s Neutral Publishing House Limited (Prabhat Khabhar) through its General Managr (HR) Shri Vikash Kumar, aged about 42 years, son of Shri R.S.P. Singh, r/o 15-P, Kokar Industrial Area, P.O.

Kokar, P.S. Sadar, District-Ranchi. ..… Petitioner (s)

Versus

1. The State of Jharkhand through the Secretary, Dept of Labour, Employment, Training and Skill Development, Govt of Jharkhand.

2.The Labour Commissioner, Dept of Labour, Employment, Training and Skill Development, Govt of Jharkhand.

3.The Under Secretary, Labour Commissioner Office, Dept of Labour, Employment, Training and Skill Development, Govt of Jharkhand.

Respondent no.1 to 3 are having their office at Nepal House, Doranda, P.O.& P.S-Doranda, District - Ranchi. 4. The Assistant Labour Commissioner, Govt. of Jharkhand having its office at Sanyukt Sharm Bhawan, Bartand, P.O. & P.S. Dhanbad, District-Dhanbad.

5. Shri Ajay Kumar Singh, Son of Shri Bhola Nath Singh, r/o House no. 84/A, Camp-02, P.O. & P.S. Bokaro Steel City, Town, Bokaro Steel City, District-

Bokaro. ..... Respondent(s)

With W.P.(L) No. 1147 of 2025 ….…..

Management of M/s Neutral Publishing House Limited (Prabhat Khabhar) through its General Managr (HR) Shri Vikash Kumar, aged about 42 years, son of Shri R.S.P. Singh, r/o 15-P, Kokar Industrial Area, P.O.

Kokar, P.S. Sadar, District-Ranchi. ..… Petitioner (s)

Versus

1. The State of Jharkhand through the Secretary, Dept of Labour, Employment, Training and Skill Development, Govt of Jharkhand.

2.The Labour Commissioner, Dept of Labour, Employment, Training and Skill Development, Govt of Jharkhand.

3.The Under Secretary, Labour Commissioner Office, Dept of Labour, Employment, Training and Skill Development, Govt of Jharkhand.

Respondent no.1 to 3 are having their office at Nepal House, Doranda, P.O.& P.S-Doranda, District - Ranchi.

4. The Labour Superintendent, Govt of Jharkhand having its office at Sitramdera, P.O. & P.S-Sitaramdera, Jamshedpur District-East Singhbhum.

5. Shri Krishnakant Singh, s/o Shri Narad Singh, r/o Quarter no. 1146, Street no. 28, Sector-8/C, Bokaro, P.O. & P.S. Bokaro Steel City, District-Bokaro.

..... Respondent(s)

….…..

CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE DEEPAK ROSHAN ….…

For the Petitioner(s) : Mr. Deepak Kumar Bharti, Adv For the Resp. No.5 : Mr. Kumar Harsh, Adv For the Resp.-State : Mr. Harsh Preet Singh, A.C. to G.P.-V’

(in W.P.(L) No. 1147 of 2025)

Mr. Ashwini Bhushan, A.C. to Sr. S.C.-II (in W.P.(L) No. 1141 of 2025)

….…..

C.A.V. ON 01/12/2025 PRONOUNCED ON:19/01/2026 Heard learned counsel for the parties.

2. Both these cases involve common questions of law and are being disposed of by a common order.

Brief Facts:

WPL No. 1141/2025

3. The Petitioner in this case assails the Reference Notification No. 2231 dated 26.12.2024. This notification referred the dispute to the Labour Court, Jamshedpur, to decide if the denial of the Rs. 1.78 Crore claim of the Respondent, Ajay Kumar Singh was justified.

The case revolves around a claim of unpaid wages amounting to Rs. 1,78,56,868/- made by the employee, Ajay Kumar Singh, under the recommendations of the Majithia Wage Board. The Petitioner challenges the jurisdiction of the Labour authorities in Jamshedpur to entertain the claim and the subsequent notification referring the matter to the Labour Court.

Ajay Kumar Singh, working as a Senior Correspondent, filed an application on 23.12.2023 before the Deputy Labour Commissioner (DLC), Bokaro. He claimed arrears under the Majithia Wage Board and raised issues regarding his transfer from Chaibasa to Jamshedpur. Since the employee was last posted in Jamshedpur (West Singhbhum), the DLC Bokaro transferred the matter to the Additional Labour Commissioner, Jamshedpur, vide letter dated 10.02.2024, citing lack of territorial jurisdiction.

The Labour Superintendent, Jamshedpur, issued a notice on 20.03.2024 asking the Petitioner management to appear. On 27.04.2024, the Petitioner appeared and filed a prel