STATE OF RAJSTHAN Vs. RAM CHANDRA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) MEANINGFUL question that re -requires my consideration in the instant Writ petition is whether Forest Department of the state of Rajasthan is an "industry" within the meaning of Section 2(j) of Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 (for short 1947 Act). If this question is answered in affirmative I would Be required to consider whether the directions issued in the impugned award need my interference.

(2.) BEFORE proceeding further it would be opposite to mention the question that the forest Department is not an 'industry' was not raised before the Labour Court but looking to the importance of the question, I allow this point to be agitated.

(3.) IT would be useful at this juncture to refer to the observations of the Bench of Hon'ble three Judges of the Supreme Court in Chief Conservator of Forest v. Jagannath Maruti Kondhare (1996) 2 SCC 293 : (1996 Lab IC 967) indicated in Paras 7, 15, 16 and 17 of the Judgment, which read as under -