PARUMALA TRANSPORT Vs. GENERAL & CONSTRUCTION WORKERS UNION

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THE writ petition is filed for a direction directing the 3rd respondent to consider and dispose of Ext.P2 complaint and for other incidental reliefs.

(2.) PETITIONER is a transportation contractor of LPG cylinders from Irumpanam Bottling Plant of Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited, Irumpanam. Petitioner submits that loading and unloading, stacking and de-stacking of cylinders is being carried out by respondents 1 and 2 at rates agreed as per Ext.P1. However, when the petitioner's trucks, diverted from the bottling plant at Palakkad reached Irumpanam on 1st October 2012, the respondent Nos.1 & 2 demanded an exorbitant rate of Rs.750.00 per truck against the agreed rate of Rs. 138.00 per truck. It is submitted that the petitioner refused to agree to the demand, the respondent Nos.1 & 2 thereupon refused to load the trucks and thus petitioner's trucks were detained at Irumpanam.

(3.) IT is not disputed that the respondent Nos.1 and 2 are loading and unloading petitioner's trucks at Irumpanam at the agreed rate as per Ext.P1. Higher rates are demanded only in respect of the trucks belonging to the petitioner diverted from Palakkad. According to the petitioner, the demand is unjust in any circumstances.