THE DEPOT MANAGER, APSRTC, BUS DEPOT Vs. THE PRESIDING OFFICER, INDUSTRIAL TRIBUNAL-CUM- LABOUR COURT, WARANGAL AND

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The Depot Manager, Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (in short "the Corporation") Warangal-1, challenges the validity of the Award dated 23.10.2006 in I.D.No.48 of 2004 on the file of the Industrial Tribunal-cum-Labour Court, Warangal (in short "the Tribunal") on various grounds in this Writ Petition.

(2.) It is the case of the petitioner-Corporation that in a domestic enquiry the charges levelled against the 2nd respondent-workman were stood proved. The disciplinary authority as well as the appellate authority having considered the gravity of the charges levelled against the respondent No.2 as proved that of the respondent No.2 being driver of the Domestic Goods Transport Vehicle bearing No.AP 9 Z 327 transported eight passengers by collecting money, imposed the penalty of reduction of pay by two incremental stages for a period of two years with cumulative effect besides treating the suspension period as 'not on duty' for all purposes. The Tribunal ought not to have interfered with the punishment as having held that the charges levelled against the 2nd respondent having been proved. Further the Labour Court without assigning any reasons for modifying the punishment of stoppage of two incremental stages for a period of two years imposed by the Disciplinary Authority, has modified the same as deferment of annual grade increment for a period of six months without cumulative effect and to treat the period of suspension as on duty for all purposes. Hence, the present writ petition.

(3.) Learned counsel submits that there is no reasoning to support the modification of the punishment imposed by the disciplinary authority.