JOINT DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE ENGG Vs. BANAMBAR ROUTRAY

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THIS writ application under Articles 226 and 227 of the Constitution is directed against an order of the Industrial Tribunal refusing to set aside an ex pane award made by it on the ground that there is no provision under the Industrial Disputes Act or the Rules made thereunder for restoration of a dispute by setting aside the ex parte award. The Tribunal is a party to present writ application though we have been asked to issue writ directing the Presiding Officer of the Industrial Tribunal, Orissa to hear the petition afresh. Under the Rules framed by This Court the Tribunal was a necessary party. In the absence of the Tribunal this writ application would not be maintainable.

(2.) EVEN upon merit we do not think the petitioner has a case. The opposite party was appointed as a foreman in the Central Work-shopcum-implement Production Centre, Bhubaneswar. Over the termination of service of the opposite party a dispute arose and a conciliation proceeding followed. The petitioner participated. Then the State Government made a reference treating this to be an industrial dispute to the Tribunal for determination. Before the Tribunal the petitioner participated. But on the date of hearing there was a default. Under Rule 23 of the Orissa Industrial Disputes Rules, 1959, the proceeding was conducted ex parte and an ex parte award followed. An application for restoration of the industrial dispute by setting aside the award was made but belatedly. That application has not been entertained by the Tribunal on the ground that he has no jurisdiction to reopen the matter. The present writ application was directed against this order of the Tribunal. We do not propose to decide as to whether the Tribunal had jurisdiction to reopen the matter. On the conduct of the petitioner we are satisfied that there is absolutely no force in the stand taken on the merit of the dispute, namely, that the Tribunal has no jurisdiction to entertain the dispute in question as it is not an industrial dispute. The petitioner had participated at different stages in the proceeding both before and after the reference. Before the Tribunal in the written statement this plea had not at all been raised. For the first time in the writ petition this objection is being raised. The objection as such cannot be disposed of without determination of certain facts and if the challenge had been made before the Tribunal, facts relevant for the purpose would have been found. In the circumstances, we do not propose to interfere in this matter. We would accordingly dismiss the petition. There would be no order as to costs.