HINDUSTAN UNILEVER LTD Vs. STATE OF ASSAM

JUDGEMENT

(1.) By way of this petition under article 226 of the Constitution of India, petitioners seek quashing of Notification No. GLR.274/2006/70 dtd. 02.06.2012 issued by the second respondent as well as order dated 18.06.2012 passed by the Presiding Officer, Industrial Tribunal, Dibrugarh in Reference Case No.1/2012. Further prayer made is for a direction to the State to provide necessary assistance to the petitioners in the task of membership verification of the workers working in their factory at Doomdooma, district - Tinsukia, Assam.

(2.) Case of the petitioners is that petitioner No.1 is a company incorporated under the Companies Act, 1956, having one of its personal product factory at Doomdooma Industrial Estate in the district of Tinsukia, Assam. Petitioner No.2 is the authorised representative of petitioner No.1 (petitioners referred to as "management" hereafter).

(3.) Management entered into a settlement on 23.04.2004 with the Hindustan Lever (PPF) Workers Union (respondent No.7), affiliated to Center of Indian Trade Unions (CITU). However, inspite of such settlement, the factory faced number of strikes and work stoppages upto July, 2007. The situation reached a flash point in July, 2007, which led to declaration of lock out on 15.07.2007.