MOTOR CAR BEEDI FACTORY Vs. CONTROLLING AUTHORITY

JUDGEMENT

(1.) IN this batch of Writ Petitions, common question arises for consideration. Hence, the batch is disposed of by a common order.

(2.) THE petitioner is a Beedi Factory, which was established about four decades ago. It was closed in the year 2005, after the permission from the concerned authorities was obtained. The licence obtained from the Central Excise Authorities was also surrendered. According to the petitioner, there were 32 employees on its rolls and at the time of closure, their claims were settled.

(3.) ABOUT 150 workers-claimants, who individually figured as respondent No. 2, in these writ petitions, have approached the controlling Authority under the Payment of gratuity Act, 1972 (for short "the Act") the first respondent, by filing applications under section 4 (1) of the Act. They pleaded that though they rendered service for decades together in the petitioner factory, till the date of closure, they have not been paid any gratuity and prayed for a direction to the petitioner, to pay the determined amount.