SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
Sudhanshu Jyoti Mukhopadhaya, S.A. Bobde, JJ.
Ram Narain Singh - Petitioner
Versus
State of Punjab and Ors. - Respondents
C.A. No. 6243 of 2014 (Arising out of SLP(C) No. 23756 of 2011)
Decided On : 09-07-2014
Labour Law - Constitution of India, 1950 - Article 226 - Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 - Section 25G – Workmen – Misconduct - Procedure for retrenchment - Seeking permission from competent authority to retrench certain employees including appellant w.e.f. 26th August, 2000 - Appellant was served with notice of retrenchment whereby it was informed that due to heavy recession in trade, fall in business, fierce competition and also for economic reasons it has been decided to close down PGCH & DANOXI plants - Held, It is settled that Management can remove workman on ground of indiscipline or misconduct but in such case ground has to be mentioned in notice and at least some evidence has to be cited in support of such allegation - In such a situation, workman can understand the gravity of charge and if required may deny allegation or accept same - High Court failed to notice aforesaid fact, Set aside order passed by Additional Labour Commissioner and order passed by Single Judge in Civil Writ Petition and the impugned judgment passed by Division Bench of High Court of Punjab and Haryana at Chandigarh in LPA - Case is remitted back to the Additional Labour Commissioner, Punjab to pass appropriate order after hearing the parties - Appeal disposed of.
ORDER :
Sudhanshu Jyoti Mukhopadhaya, J.
This appeal has been preferred by appellant against the judgment and order dated 3rd March, 2011 passed by Division Bench of the High Court of Punjab and Haryana at Chandigarh in LPA No. 1301 of 2010. By the impugned judgment, the High Court observed as follows:
2. The factual matrix of the case is that the appellant was a workman with respondent No.3- M/s Alpha Drugs India Limited (now Punjab Chemicals and Crop Protection Limited). Respondent No.3 sought permission under Section 25N of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 seeking permission from the competent authority to retrench certain employees including the appellant w.e.f. 26th August, 2000. The appellant was served with notice of retrenchment dated 26th May 2000 whereby it was informed that due to heavy recession in trade, fall in business, fierce competition and also for economic reasons it has been decided to close down PGCH & DANOXI plants.
3. The Additional Labour Commissioner, Punjab after hearing the employer and the Union of Workmen granted permission to retrench the appellant by order dated 27th August, 2000. The Additional Labour Commissioner in the said order observed as follows:
4. The appellant challenged the said order before the learned Single Judge by filing CWP No. 10468/2000. The learned Single Judge dismissed the said writ petition by order dated 6th November, 2009 and the said order was affirmed by the Division Bench of the High Court.
5. Learned counsel for the appellant submitted that the Additional Labour Commissioner made the aforesaid observation on the basis of the materials alleging indiscipline on the part of appellant which were not supplied to the appellant. It is further contended that no such ground was shown in the notice of retrenchment served on the appellant.
6. Though notice was issued and served on respondents, they have not appeared thereby not disputed the aforesaid fact. We have noticed the submission made on behalf of the appellant and perused the judgment.
7. From the record we
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