IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH Date of Decision : November 11, 2025 MUNICIPAL COUNCIL, PATHANKOT -PETITIONER V/S PRESIDING OFFICER, LABOUR COURT, GURDASPUR AND ANR.

-RESPONDENTS CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE KULDEEP TIWARI Present: Mr. Sanjeev Soni, Advocate, and Mr. Sarthak Soni, Advocate for the petitioner.

Mr. Sanjay Kumar, Advocate (Through V.C.)

for the respondent No.2.

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KULDEEP TIWARI, J. (ORAL)

1. The present writ petition assails the award dated 10.03.1999 (Annexure P-1), whereby the Labour Court, Gurdaspur, having found the termination of services of respondent No.2/workman to be illegal, directed his reinstatement with continuity of service and awarded 25% back wages from the date of the demand notice, i.e. 24.05.1990, till reinstatement.

2. This Court, while admitting the writ petition on 03.10.2000, stayed the operation of the impugned award, subject to compliance with the provisions of Section 17-B of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 (hereinafter referred to as “the I.D. Act”).

3. Concisely and compendiously, the case set up by respondent No.2/workman in his demand notice dated 24.05.1990, which constituted bedrock for the impugned award, was that he wa