SUDHIR VASUDEVA Vs. M GEORGE RAVI SHEKERAN

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THIS contempt appeal is directed against the order dated 19.1.2012 passed in Contempt Petition No.161 of 2010.

(2.) THE factual matrix leading to the filing of the present contempt appeal are as follows. Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (hereinafter referred to as "the Corporation"), a Public Sector Undertaking under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Government of India, is having its oil and natural gas exploration and exploitation sites, both on-shore and off-shore, at various places all over the country. The Corporation was having in its employment the regular posts of Marine Assistant Radio Operators, Marine Radio Operators, Marine Radio Officers, Senior Marine Radio Officers for manning the radio network and communication equipment at drill sites. The Corporation also engaged the services of "Radio Operators", as contract labour, through certain private independent contractors. The respondents were initially engaged by the Corporation to work as 'Radio Operators' in the Cauvery and Krishna Godhavari Project through private contractors on and from the year 1986.

(3.) AS the Corporation failed to give effect to these recommendations, the respondents were constrained to file W.P.No.21518 of 2000 seeking for a direction to the Corporation to absorb them as Marine Assistant Radio Operators with effect from 8.9.1994 on the basis of the abolition of contract labour and as per the recommendations dated 4.6.1999 of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Government of India and the approval of the competent authority as communicated in the fax dated 23.9.1999 with all monetary and all other attendant benefits. After hearing the rival contentions, by order dated 2.8.2006, the learned Judge allowed the writ petition as prayed for. The relevant paragraphs of the order read as follows:-