INDIAN CEMENT LIMITED Vs. STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioner is a cement manufacturing unit established at Yerraguntla, Kadapa District. The petitioner is a subsidiary unit of Ultra Tech Cements. During the course of their business, the petitioner has engaged the services of labour contractors for the packing and loading of cement bags. The licenced labour contractor has an agreement with the petitioner company and payment is made to the licenced labour contractor on a tonnage basis.

(2.) The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submits that, at the instance of the local politician, the contract labour have raised illegal demands of absorbing them on the rolls of the company. The contract labour are employed by the contractor and paid by the contractor. It is submitted that the petitioner company has no agreement or arrangement with any of the individual labour, who are employed by the contractor.

(3.) It is submitted that the contract employees have stalled the packaging and loading of cement bags from 20/4/2025. Repeated letters were sent to the contractor to resume the packing and loading work. It is further submitted that the petitioner is informed that the local politician is instigating the workmen to raise illegal demands and stall the operation of the plant by closing the main gates. The brute force of the agitating workmen is causing a threat and fear of assault to the employees and other staff. It is submitted that on 5/6/2025, about ten packaging contract workers, along with about 90 other outsiders, attempted to break open the company's main gate. It is also submitted that the petitioner brought the same to the notice of the police. However, the police have not extended the required support.