STATE OF PUNJAB Vs. DALJIT SINGH

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Whether the Agriculture Department of the Punjab State comes within the ambit of "industry" as defined in section 2(j) of the Industrial Disputes Act (hereinafter referred to as the Act), is the question to be decided in this case.

(2.) The respondent Daljit Singh was employed as Agricultural Sub Inspector in the aforesaid Department. His services were terminated on 1st of March, 1979. Whether the termination was justified and in order was the point referred for adjudication by the State Government to the Labour Court, Patiala, under Section 10(1)(c) of the Act. The Director, Agriculture, Punjab, and the Chief Agriculture Officer, Sangrur, the present petitioners, pleaded that the services of Daljit Singh were terminated purely on administrative grounds and no stigma was attached. An objection was also taken that the Agriculture Department is not an "industry" as defined in the Act and so the Labour Court had no jurisdiction to entertain the reference under section 10(1) (c) of the Act. On the pleadings of the parties, the Labour Court framed the following issues :

(3.) The term "industry" has been defined in the Act as follows :-