RAJU GOVINDA CHAMAT Vs. PROJECT OFFICER SOIL

JUDGEMENT

(1.) RULE. Heard finally with consent of counsel for the parties.

(2.) Since common issues arise for adjudication in these writ petitions, they are being decided together by this common judgment. For the sake of convenience, the facts in Writ Petition No.6033 of 2018 are being referred to.

(3.) The petitioners claim that since the year 1987 onwards they have been working as daily wagers with the Soil and Water Management Project under the Irrigation Department of the State Government. They claim to have worked continuously for a period of more than 240 days since their initial appointments. On 27.11.2001 their services came to be terminated. It is their case that without following the procedure as prescribed by Sections 25F, 25G and Section 9A of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 (for short, 'the Act of 1947'), their services have been dispensed with. Initially, they had approached the Labour Court by filing complaints under Section 28 of the Maharashtra Recognition of Trade Unions and Prevention of Unfair Labour Practices Act, 1971 (for short, 'the Act of 1971') in the year 2007. However, the delay in filing those proceedings was not condoned by the Labour Court. They approached the Industrial Court so as to challenge that order but the revision applications were also dismissed. Thereafter the petitioners raised a dispute under the Act of 1947 by approaching the Conciliation Officer. The dispute was then referred to the Industrial Court in the year 2016. The petitioners accordingly claimed relief against the act of illegal termination of their services.