RIZWAN AHMAD Vs. PRESCRIBED OFFICER, PAYMENT OF WAGES ACT, 1936/ADDITIONAL LABOUR COMMISSIONER HARIDWAR & OTHERS

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Some of the workers who were working at a construction site, for the construction of petitioner's factory moved an application for payment of wages under Section 15 (2) of the Payment of Wages Act, 1936. The Prescribed Authority, Payment of Wages Act passed an ex parte order dated 25.05.2012 directing the petitioner to pay an amount of Rs. 3, 46, 800/- (Rupees Three Lakh Forty Six Thousand Eight Hundred only) to the workers, which according to the Prescribed Authority was illegally deducted from the wages of these workers. An equal amount of penalty i.e. Rs. 3, 46, 800/- (Rupees Three Lakh Forty Six Thousand Eight Hundred only) was also imposed upon the petitioner. The petitioner was directed to pay a total amount of Rs. 6, 93, 600/- (Rupees Six Lakh Ninety Three Thousand Six Hundred only). Thereafter, the petitioner has put in appearance before the authority and moved an application for recalling the order dated 25.02.2012. The application filed by the petitioner for recalling the order dated 25.02.2012 was allowed and vide its order dated 26.03.2014, the Prescribed Authority recalled its ex parte order dated 25.02.2012. However, due to non-appearance of the petitioner later, the Prescribed Authority vide its order dated 16.12.2016 revived its earlier order dated 25.05.2012 and now the recovery proceeding has been initiated against the petitioner. Hence, the petitioner has filed the present writ petition.

(2.) In my considered opinion, the matter must be heard on its merits by the concerned authority. Let the petitioner appear before the Prescribed Authority, Payment of Wages Act, Haridwar in the week commencing 16.07.2018. The Prescribed Authority after giving due notice to the petitioner shall hear the case on its merit.

(3.) Meanwhile, the amount of Rs. 3, 46, 800/- (Rupees Three Lakh Forty Six Thousand Eight Hundred only) which has been deposited by the petitioner with the Registry in compliance of this Court's order dated 06.04.2018 shall be transferred by the Registry to the Prescribed Authority. This amount shall only be released by the Prescribed Authority after the determination of the case.