STATE OF M P Vs. ONKAR PRASAD PATEL

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Challenge in this appeal is to a judgment of the learned Single Judge of the High Court of Madhya Pradesh at Jabalpur dismissing the writ petition filed by the State of Madhya Pradesh and its functionaries; thereby putting its seal of approval on the orders of the Labour Court, Jabalpur (in short, the Labour Court) and the Industrial Court, Jabalpur Bench (in short, the Industrial Court). The respondent (hereinafter referred to as the workman) filed a petition under Section 31(3) read with Section 61 of the Madhya Pradesh Industrial Relations Act, 1960 (in short, the M.P. Act). His stand in the essence was that he was in the services of the Public Health Engineering Department and was working at Jabalpur Sub-Division since 17.11.1991 as a Helper. He prayed for regularization of his services on the ground that he had rendered services for more than six months in a permanent vacant post and, therefore, entitled to be classified as a permanent employee and was also entitled to the difference of salary and consequential benefits. The claim was resisted by the State and its functionaries on the ground that the respondent was not working in respect of a permanent post and his services cannot, therefore, be regularized. Evidence was led by the parties. The Labour Court came to a positive finding that the applicant/workman had not been appointed to any permanent and vacant post by an appointment order and he was not as such entitled to get the benefits of differences in wages, as he was a daily wager. But it directed that from the date of order, he was entitled to get the regular wage rate. This, apparently, was done because the Labour Court felt that he had worked continuously and, therefore, was entitled to be classified in the permanent category. It held that the applicant was entitled to be classified in permanent category on the post of worker from 24.05.1994 i.e. two years prior to 24.05.1996 (the date of application) and was to be granted wage rate of regular category from the date of the order of the Labour Court i.e. 26.08.2000. An appeal was filed before the Industrial Court, which was dismissed. The Industrial Court was of the view that since the applicant/workman had worked for more than six months from the date of appointment, he was entitled to the benefit extended by the Labour Court. A writ application was filed before the High Court, which, as noted above, was dismissed. The High Court came to hold that enough opportunity was granted to the employer to place its case and the employer only exhibited Ex.D-1 and did not want to lead any further evidence. Therefore, the view expressed by the Labour Court and the Industrial Court did not warrant interference.

(2.) Learned Counsel for the appellant-State and its functionaries submitted that in order to be entitled to a declaration for permanency, certain criteria are fixed in terms of the Standard Standing Order framed under the Act. The requirements are (a) the employee must have completed six months satisfactory service (b) the service must have been rendered in a clear vacancy in one or more posts. In the instant case, no evidence was adduced by the claimant/workman to show that there was any clear vacancy. The assertions made in that regard in the petition was denied specifically by the present appellant. In fact, the Labour Court recorded a positive finding that there was no clear vacancy and, therefore, there was no question of his being classified in the permanent category. A specific issue was framed in this regard which reads as follows:

(3.) After having held that the applicant/workman had not been appointed to any permanent and vacant post, the directions given do not stand to reason. Unfortunately, the Labour Court, Industrial Court and the High Court did not focus attention on this vital issue.