RELIANCE COMMUNICATION LIMITED Vs. THE UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This writ application has been filed by the petitioner for quashing of the order dated 04.04.2014 passed by the Presiding Officer, Industrial Tribunal, Muzaffarpur in I.D. Case No. 01 of 2013 whereby the petitioner?s application with preliminary objection on the point of jurisdiction has been dismissed.

(2.) Mr. Rajesh Ranjan, learned Advocate for the petitioner submitted that telecommunication sector is a controlled industry as notified by the Central Government under the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 (for short 'I.D. Act') and, therefore, the appropriate Government with respect to constitution of industrial tribunal and entrustment of industrial disputes concerning controlled industry is the Central Government. He submitted that the Industrial Tribunal, Muzaffarpur constituted by the State Government had no jurisdiction to entertain the dispute directly raised by the workman (respondent no.4) before it, as any industrial dispute arising out of employment of a controlled industry can only be entertained by a tribunal constituted by the Central Government.

(3.) Mr. Rajesh Ranjan, learned Advocate submitted that the workman being an employee of the petitioner-company had already raised industrial dispute before the Central Government and subsequently filed the present case by suppressing the aforesaid fact.