15 OFFICER COMMANDING Vs. HARI SHANKAR

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioner has challenged seven awards whereby the Central Government Industrial Tribunal has awarded compensation of Rs.30,000/- to the five workmen and Rs.75,000/- to the two workmen in lieu of reinstatement apart from the litigation cost of Rs.25,000/- to each of the workmen.

(2.) The respondents worked with the petitioner as casual labour in their godown/storage/watchman/kitchen and their services were dispensed with on 31st October, 1997 whereupon the respondents raised an industrial dispute claiming reinstatement with backwages. The respondents claim to have worked with the petitioner for more than ten years and have completed continuous service of 240 days in a calendar year whereas according to the petitioner, the respondents worked for the period 7 to 14 years as per the details given and they had not completed continuous service of 240 days in a calendar year.

(3.) The Industrial Tribunal held that the respondents had completed continuous service of 240 days. The Tribunal further held the termination of the service of the respondents to be illegal. However, the learned Tribunal declined the relief of reinstatement and awarded compensation and litigation cost in lieu thereof.