IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH Date of Decision : December 12, 2025 STATE OF HARYANA THROUGH GENERAL MANAGER, HARYANA ROADWAYS, PANIPAT -PETITIONER V/S RAJINDER PRASAD AND ANR.

-RESPONDENTS CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE KULDEEP TIWARI Present: Mr. Bhupender Singh, Addl. A.G., Haryana.

Mr. Jagbir Malik, Advocate, with Mr. Shubham Malik, Advocate for the respondent No.1.

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KULDEEP TIWARI, J. (ORAL)

1. Through instituting the present writ petition, the petitioner/management assails the award dated 30.05.2000, passed by respondent No.2/Labour Court, Panipat, whereby, upon holding that the termination of services of respondent No.1/workman was illegal for want of a departmental enquiry and non-payment of retrenchment compensation, the reference was answered in favour of the workman.

2. While assailing the impugned award, learned counsel for the management submits that the workman was engaged as a Conductor purely on a contractual basis and not pursuant to any regular selection process. It is contended that he worked from 10.03.1993 till 09.11.1993, after which he voluntarily abandoned his duties without any leave application or prior intimation. Owing to his wilful absen