(1.) THIS is a petition for quashing of the award dated August 23, 1988 passed by the Labour Court, Bhatinda in Reference No. 1 of 1988 'ram Singh v. General Manager, Punjab Roadways, Moga and another'.
(2.) ALTHOUGH none has appeared on behalf of the parties, we do not consider it appropriate to dismiss the petition in default because this Court has not been able to give hearing to the petitioner for last almost one decade.
(3.) THE petitioner has challenged the action of the employer on those very grounds which were raised by him before the Labour Court. He has questioned the award on the ground that the Labour Court has failed to exercise the jurisdiction vested in it under Section 11-A of the Act inasmuch as it has not examined the merits of the finding recorded on the allegation of misconduct and it has not considered the justness of punishment awarded by the employer.