THE MANAGING DIRECTOR, KARNATAKA URBAN WATER SUPPLY AND DRAINAGE BOARD AND ORS. Vs. SHEKARGOUDA VEERANGOUDA PATIL AND ORS.

JUDGEMENT

(1.) These petitions are heard and disposed of by this common order having regard to similar facts and circumstances arising in both the cases.

(2.) The petitioner is a statutory body namely, Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Drainage Board. The petitioner is constituted under the Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Drainage Board Act, 1969 (Hereinafter referred to as the 'Act', for brevity). The functions of the Board were earlier performed by the Public Health Engineering Department. In the year 1964, for the purpose of regulating drainage facility etc., the Board was established. It has its own Service, Cadre and Recruitment Regulations and according to the Regulations, no recruitment can be made to any permanent or temporary posts unless it is in accordance with the Regulations. Since it was not an independent organization, it was awarding contracts to contractors to execute the projects by calling for tenders.

(3.) The respondents in these petitions were such workmen allegedly working under contractors and they had put forth their claim that they are workmen under the petitioners performing various activities such as fitters, valvemen, electricians, line repair men, typists and drivers at Dambal Pump House and Mundaragi Pump House in the respective petitions. It was their claim that the wages were paid to them on hand vouchers to avoid permanent status being given to their employment. It was their claim that their services were to be regularized and they were pressing the Board to award them service benefits and hence they had moved the Labour Court, Hubli, for a declaration that termination of their services was illegal and void and they should be reinstated with all consequential benefits.