(1.) IN the present Writ Application, the petitioner has challenged the order as contained in Annexure -3 whereby, in exercise of the powers under Section 9(A) of the Industrial Disputes Act, the Central Government has refused to refer the dispute for adjudication on the ground that the Union filed a case regarding reduction of wages to the workman after lapse of so many years and that the demand of the Union was vague and frivolous and therefore, no Industrial Dispute subsisted for adjudication.
(2.) LEARNED Counsel for the petitioner relying in the cases of Telco Convoy Drivers' Mazdoor Sangh and Anr. v. State of Bihar and Ors. reported in 1989 SC 1565 and Sapan Kumar Pandit v. U.P. State Electricity Board and Ors. reported in : (2001)IILLJ788SC has submitted that the Central Government had no jurisdiction at all to enter into the merit of the claim of the Union while refusing to refer the dispute for adjudication. It was further submitted that on the ground of delay also, the reference could not have been refused.
(3.) IN the case of Telco Convoy Drivers' Mazdoor Sangh and Anr. (Supra), as it appears the reference was refused to be referred by holding that the person raising the dispute was not a workman therefore in that case, the Central Government decided the question of relationship of employer and workman and held that person raising the dispute was not workman.