EASTERN COALFIELDS LIMITED Vs. GOPAL CHANDRA MONDAL

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THIS appeal has been preferred against the judgment and order dated 08.05.2009 passed by the learned Single Judge in W.P(S) No. 5913/06 which was passed along with W.P(S) No. 5923/06 by which the impugned order dated 19.8.1994 under which services of both the petitioners were terminated were set aside but the respondents were granted liberty to take a fresh decision in the matter in accordance with the procedure laid down under the law after granting reasonable opportunity of hearing to both the petitioners and allow them to submit their defence. Both the writ petitions were accordingly disposed of.

(2.) THE appellant -management of Eastern Coalfields Limited has preferred this appeal against the aforesaid judgment and order and in support of the appeal, the counsel for the appellant inter alia submitted that the respondents -employees should have been directed by the learned Single Judge to approach the Industrial Tribunal for redressal of their grievances as that was the direction of the Division Bench of the Calcutta High Court in an appeal preferred by the Management against the order of Single Judge setting aside the order of termination. Order passed by the Division Bench of the Calcutta High Court was challenged by one of the respondents namely, Gopal Chandra Mondal before the Supreme Court vide SLP (Civil) No. 14069 of 2003 and the Supreme Court vide order dated 16.12.2005 passed in S.L.P.(Civil) No. 14069/2003 had been pleased to dismiss the S.L.P. However, it was observed that if so advised, the petitioner may approach the appropriate Court for relief in accordance with law and therefore, the petitioner Gopa Chandra Mondal filed a writ petition bearing W.P(S) No. 5913/2006 out of which this appeal arises.

(3.) THUS , the plea that the petitioner in terms of order of the Division Bench was bound to approach the Industrial Tribunal and not by way of a writ petition before the High Court cannot be allowed to be raised. Besides this, we have noticed that the learned Single Judge has been pleased to held that the procedure For enquiry was not followed by the appellant -management and, therefore, the termination was set aside granting liberty to the appellant -management to take a fresh decision in the matter in accordance with law.