GOA MRF EMPLOYEES UNION Vs. MRF LIMITED

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THE petition raises an interesting question of law of considerable importance. Does the industrial Tribunal have the power to grant interim reliefs, including in the nature of injunctions, in a complaint filed before it under section 33-A of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947?

(2.) THE petitioner is a registered Trade union. Its members are workmen employed by respondent No. 1. Respondent No. 2 is the presiding Officer of the Industrial Tribunal who passed the impugned Order.

(3.) THE Settlement arrived at between the parties on November 20, 1991, was due to expire on September 30, 1995. The petitioner had served a notice of termination dated July 29, 1995, on respondent No. 1. By a letter dated february 15, 1996, the petitioner as the sole bargaining agent of the workmen of respondent no. 1 served its Charter of Demands on respondent No. 1. The Charter of Demands was in respect of conditions of service of the workmen of respondent No. 1. Respondent No. 1 in turn served its Charter of Demands by a letter dated February 7, 1996. Thereupon negotiations ensued between the petitioner and respondent No. 1. The same however did not culminate into a settlement.