L I C OF INDIA Vs. ANWAR KHAN

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Challenge in this appeal is to the order passed by a Division Bench of the Allahabad High Court affirming the order passed by the learned Single Judge of the said High Court.

(2.) Background facts in a nutshell are as follows: Questioning decision taken by the appellant-Life Insurance Corporation of India (in short LIC) fixing the age of retirement of Development Officer, presently called the Field Officer at 58 years, a suit was filed by respondent-Anwar Khan. The said Anwar Khan has expired in the meantime and his legal representatives are presently the respondents. The suit was filed primarily for declaration that in view of the agreement between the Field Officers Association and the LIC age of retirement is 60 years. The suit was decreed on 30.7.1981 and the appeal by the LIC was dismissed on 27.3.1982. The second appeal filed before the High Court is pending. During the pendency of the second appeal, the respondent-Anwar Khan moved the authorities under the Payment of Wages Act, 1936 (in short the Act) claiming compensation. Stand of the LIC before the original authority was that the Development Officers are not covered by the Act as they get more than Rs.1,000/- p.m. By Order dated 11.6.1993, the Assistant Labour Commissioner held that the claimant was entitled to wages for the relevant period plus double the amount as compensation. An appeal was preferred by the LIC. The Appellate Authority by order dated 7.5.1999 modified the Award to the extent that the claimant was entitled to the wages claimed along with the compensation of amount equivalent to back wages. LIC filed a writ petition questioning correctness of the order of the Appellate Authority.

(3.) The learned Single Judge dismissed the writ petition. The Division Bench of the High Court held that Letters Patent Appeal was not maintainable. As noted above, Anwar Khan died in 1990. Stand before the High Court was that the authorities under the Act should not have decided the claim made as the suit filed was merely for a declaration and no consequential relief was granted. In any event, the Act has no application and no compensation is payable. The application was filed under Section 15(2) of the Act. Reference was also made to the U.P. Dookan Aur Vanijya Adhisthan Adhiniyam, 1962 (in short the "Adhiniyam").