WORKMEN OF BIRLA TEXTILES Vs. K K BIRLA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Contempt Petition No. 61 of 1999 has been filed by the Workmen of M/s. Birla Textiles (Prop. Texmaco Ltd., Calcutta) for punishing the four respondents who are incharge of the management of the Industry, on the ground of wilful disobedience of the directions of this Court dated 18-12-1998 in Interlocutory Application No. 202 in I.A. No. 22 in Writ Petition No. 4677 of 1985. Contempt Petition No. 72 of 1999 is a similar petition by the All India Textile Mazdoor Janta Union. Similar Contempt Petition No. 92 of 1999 is filed by two petitioners, namely, the Kapra Mazdoor Lal Jhanda Union and one Kanchan Singh, Interlocutory Application by Nawal Kishore Misra in Contempt Petition No. 532 of 1997 in Writ Petition No. 4677 of 1985 is taken on Board. Interlocutory Application Nos. 624-628, 160, 201-203 are filed by the Birla Textiles in IA 22 and 36 in Writ Petition No. 4677 of 1985 for extension of time for payment of the amounts ordered by this Court on 18-12-1998 in the judgment of this Court in M. C. Mehta v. Union of India, JT 1998 (9) SC 104.

(2.) When the matters came up before us on 1-2-1999, we directed an interim payment of Rs. 30,000/- to the workmen, 'on account' as the Mill was not admittedly functional.

(3.) In the judgment of this Court dated 18-12-1998 the earlier history of this litigation has been set out in detail and, therefore, we do not propose to refer to the same again. The orders and directions given by this Court in that order can be summarised as follows: