The court upheld the sufficiency of existing police measures to maintain order during labor disputes, dismissing the need for additional injunctions.

ORDER

The petitioner has filed this writ petition criminal seeking direction to the first and second respondents to provide necessary protection for ingress and egress of vehicles, staff and other workmen from the petitioner’s premises and to forbear the 4^th respondent from carrying out illegal protest in any form within a radius of 500 meters from the petitioner’s premises.

2.The learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner company was founded in the 1975 and it is engaged in the business of manufacturing, retail and export of footwear. The petitioner company over the past 50 years has earned a good reputation among the consumers and it is one of the leading footwear manufacturers in the country. The company owns several manufacturing units and three units are situated in Salem. The manufacturing unit at Salem has over 378 workmen, consisting of both permanent and contractual workmen. There are two registered trade unions in the petitioner factory namely Paragon Rubber Factory Labour Development affiliated with the Labour Progressive Federation (LPF) which is the majority trade union. The other trade union the 4^th respondent namely Salem District Paragon Labour Union affiliated with the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU). Out of 378 workmen, women workers constitute 50% of the work force and the petitioner company employs women in order to promote empowerment of women.

3.It is further submitted that in the year 2021, the permanent workmen issued a charter of demands before the Assistant Commissioner of Labour (Conciliation), Salem and after several rounds of discussions, settlement under Section 12 (3) of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 was arrived at between the petitioner and the majority trade union on 04.10.2021. The settlement was in force for a period of 4 years. The settlement dated 04.10.2021 expired, fresh settlement talks and negotiations were initiated and the same is presently pending consideration before the Assistant Commissioner of Labour (Conciliation), Salem. On 13.02,2026, one Rajesh, Supervisor, who was in charge for allocation of man power to the respective departments allotted work for the workmen. Barath, a workman defied the orders of Supervisor and informed that they will not work and engaged in a verbal spat with the supervisor and also issued death threats. This issue was escalated to the PVC section in charge Mr.S.Praveen Kumar and in charge held talks with the erring workmen. But the workmen still went onto continue threats and refused to work entire day, which seriously affected the production.

4.Further, it is submitted that on 14.02.2026, considering the verbal spat and death threats, and in order to subside the issues, one Parthiban was allotted work in the shoe section. However, the said Parthiban refused to work. Consequently, the workmen engaged in a verbal spat with the Supervisor. Based on the complaint lodged, 13 workmen affiliated with the 4^th respondent were placed under suspension on 16.02.2026 in violation of Section 20 of the standing orders of the petitioner. The workmen were squatting inside the factory premises, not allowing any production work and abusing the Supervisors, Managers and others. Despite a meeting arranged with the HR Manager, no solution could be arrived. Since the threat had only escalated, the General Manager lodged a complaint with the Inspector of Police, Karipatty Police Station, Salem on 15.02.2026 seeking Police protection for the men and material and also for free ingress and egress. On 16.02.2026, there was a protest by the workmen before the 4^th respondent. Though there was presence of policemen, it was not adequate and had no deterring effect of the workmen.

Hence filed this petition.

5.In support of his contention, the learned counsel for