NON-REPORTABLE
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
CIVIL APPEAL NOs 4858-4859 OF 2016
[@ SPECIAL LEAVE PETITION (C) 35984-35985 OF 2015]
GHANSHYAM SUKHDEO GAIKWAD AND ORS Appellant(s)
VERSUS
BAJAJ AUTO LTD. & ORS. Respondent(s)
WITH
CIVIL APPEAL NOs. 4860-4862 OF 2016
[@ SPECIAL LEAVE PETITION (C) 35986-35988 OF 2015]
J U D G M E N T
KURIAN, J.
1. Leave granted.
2. The appeals have a chequered history. The appellants started the
litigation way back in the year 1991 by approaching initially the Labour
Court and thereafter, the Industrial Court at Pune. The Labour Court
dismissed their complaint. The Industrial Court remanded the matter to the
Labour Court, which was pursued by the Management before the High Court.
The High Court set aside the orders of the Labour Court and the Industrial
Court by consent, and the matter was remanded to the Labour Court by order
dated 09.04.1996. The Labour Court, by order dated 12.12.1997, dismissed
the complaint. The appellants pursued the matter before the Industrial
Tribunal. The Industrial Tribunal allowed the complaint and directed
reinstatement of the workmen, however, without backwages, by its order
dated 22.01.1998.
3. Both sides, feeling aggrieved, approached the High Court of
judicature of Bombay, which has led to the impugned Judgment and Order
dated 07.05.2015, by which the High Court has dismissed the writ petition
filed by the appellants and allowed the writ petition filed by the
Management, holding that the retrenchment was in order.
4. Thus aggrieved, the workmen are before this Court in these appeals.
5. We have heard the learned counsel on both sides extensively. During
the course of hearing, it was noticed by this Court that in the year 2007,
one of the appellants (according to the learned counsel for the Management,
all the appellants) was offered Voluntary Retirement (VRS), by which
Scheme, the appellant would be receiving an amount of Rs.20,40,981/-,
inclusive of Provident Fund and Gratuity. It appears that the workman was
not happy with the offer. According to Mr. Sanjay Singhvi, learned senior
counsel appearing for the appellants, some of them were not offered the
said Scheme.
6. Be that as it may, it is not in dispute that all the appellants have
been getting regular wages ever since 2002, as applicable to permanent
workers. According to Mr. Singhvi, learned senior counsel, the wages of
regular workers did not actually include certain allowances. It is also
not in dispute that the Management has not been extracting any work from
the appellants since April, 2003, though according to the appellants, they
have been reporting everyday for work and they have been sitting in the
premises of the Company only.
7. Having regard to the background of the litigation, having regard to
the fact that thousands of employees have been discharged on VRS by the
Management and having regard to the fact that out of the 65 people who
pursued the litigation, 59 people have already gone on VRS or otherwise,
and having regard to the age factor of the appellants, we are of the view
that the interest of justice would be advanced if the appellants are paid a
lump sum amount towards settlement of all their dues. Though neither the
Management nor the workmen could agree on the offers made from either side,
having regard to all the aspects which we have referred to above, we feel
that to do complete justice between the parties, it will be appropriate
that the appellants are given an amount of Rs. 10 Lakhs (Rupees Ten Lakhs)
each. The said amount of Rs. 10 Lakhs will be paid to the appellants
within six weeks from today and in case of default in making the payment,
the amount shall carry interest at the rate of 18% from the date of the
award passed by the Industrial Tribunal.
8. We make it clear that the said amount of Rs. 10 Lakhs will not
include the claim of the workmen for Gratuity and Provident Fund. We also
clarify that the Gratuity will be calculated on the basis of the wages
drawn by the workmen as of now and with continuous service till today.
9. In view of the above observations and directions, the appeals are
disposed of with no order as to costs.
10. It is made clear that we have invoked our special jurisdiction under
Article 142 of the Constitution and, therefore, this Judgment will not be
treated as a precedent.
…………………..J.[ KURIAN JOSEPH ]
…………………..J.[ ROHINTON FALI NARIMAN ]
New Delhi;
May 05, 2016.
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