REPORTABLE

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA

CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTON

CIVIL APPEAL NOs. 4211 & 4212 OF 2007

VIJAYA BANK …APPELLANT

VERSUS

SHYAMAL KUMAR LODH …RESPONDENT

J U D G M E N T

C.K. PRASAD, J.

1.These appeals, by grant of leave arise out of a common

judgment of the Division Bench of the Gauhati High Court

dated 10

th

January, 2007 in Writ appeal No.381 of 2001 and

Writ Appeal No.11 of 2002, whereby it had set aside the order

of the learned Single Judge dated 22

nd

August, 2001 and 24

th

August, 2001 passed in Civil Rule No.3735 of 1995 and Civil

Rule No.2771 of 1997 respectively.

2.Facts lie in a narrow compass :-

Shyamal Kumar Lodh-respondent herein is an employee

of the appellant-Vijaya Bank. It is a Nationalised Bank. The

employee filed application before the Labour Court, Dibrugarh

constituted by the State Government under Section 7 of the

Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 for an award computing his

suspension/subsistence allowance under Section 33C(2) of the

Act.

3.It is not in dispute that the appropriate Government in

relation to an employee is the Central Government and the

employee had filed the application before the Labour Court

constituted by the State Government. It is further not in

dispute that the Labour Court before whom the employee had

filed the application has not been specified by the Central

Government. On the application so filed the Labour Court

issued notice to the appellant-employer. The appellant

appeared before the Labour Court and questioned its

jurisdiction to adjudicate the dispute on the ground that the

said Court having not been specified by the Central

Government under Section 33C(2) of the Industrial Disputes

Act, 1947 it had no jurisdiction to entertain the application.

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4.The Labour Court by its order dated 19

th

August, 1995

over-ruled that objection and held that its jurisdiction to

adjudicate the dispute is not ousted. Employer aggrieved by

the aforesaid order dated 19

th

August, 1995 preferred writ

application which was registered as Civil Rule No. 3735 of

1995. A learned Single Judge of the Gauhati High Court by its

judgment dated 22

nd

August, 1995 passed in Civil Rule

No.3735 of 1995 upheld its contention and while doing so

observed as follows :

“As the Labour Court at Dibrugarh was not specified

by the appropriate Government they have no

jurisdiction to issue notice to the Petitioner in both the

cases.”

5.During the pendency of the proceeding before the Labour

Court, the employee filed application seeking enhancement of

the subsistence allowance and the Labour Court by order

dated 17

th

Ocober,1996 directed the employer to deposit

recurring subsistence allowance in Court. Employee had also

preferred writ petition against the aforementioned order dated

17

th

October, 1996 which was registered as Civil Rule No. 2771

of 1996.Following its earlier judgment dated 22

nd

August 1995

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passed in Civil Rule No. 3735 of 1995, the learned Single

Judge by its order dated 24

th

August, 2001 allowed the writ

petition and quashed the aforesaid order dated 17.10.1996.

6.Employee, aggrieved by the aforesaid orders of the Single

Judge, preferred separate appeals, which were registered as

Writ Appeal No. 381 of 2001 and Writ Appeal No. 11 of 2002.

Both the appeals were heard together and a Division Bench of

the High Court by its common judgment dated 10

th

January,

2007 allowed the appeals and set aside both the orders of the

Single Judge. While doing so it concurred with the Single

Judge that as the Labour Court at Dibrugarh has not been

specified by the Central Government, it had no jurisdiction to

entertain the petition preferred by the employee. However, on

its finding that claim of subsistence allowance falls within

Section 10A(2) of the Industrial Employment(Standing Order)

Act, and the Branch of the Bank where the employee was

working, fell within the limits of jurisdiction of Labour Court in

question, it shall have jurisdiction to decide the claim. While

doing so, it observed as follows :

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“In the instant case, the Labour Court at

Dibrugarh has not been ‘specified’ by the Central

Government for the said purpose and accordingly,

we are unable to agree with the first submission

advanced by the learned counsel for the appellant

that the Labour Court at Dibrugarh would have

jurisdiction to entertain the application filed by the

Appellant only on the basis of the provisions under

the Act.

However, the provisions of the Standing Orders

Act appear to indicate that a Labour Court

constituted under the 1947 Act, whether by the State

Government or Central Government, would have

jurisdiction to entertain a claim of subsistence

allowance payable to a workman on an application

made to such Labour Court by the concerned

workman. The provisions of Section 10A(2) of the

Standing Orders Act is a special provision

incorporated only for adjudicating on claim relating

to payment of subsistence allowance.

Having regard to the special provision under

Section 10A(2) of the Standing Orders Act, we feel

that the Labour Court of Dibrugarh, although

constituted by the State Government, would have

jurisdiction to entertain a claim for subsistence

allowance even in respect of employees under a

nationalized banks. It is not specified in Section

10A(2) of the Standing Orders Act that the Labour

Court constituted under the 1947 Act has to be a

Labour Court constituted by an appropriate

Government. It is also not stipulated that the

appropriate Government has to ‘specify’ such a

Labour Court for entertaining on application under

Section 10A(2) of the Standing Orders Act. The only

requirement for assumption of jurisdiction by a

Labour Court under Section 10A(2) of the Standing

Orders Act is that the Labour Court has to be one,

which has been constituted under the 1947 Act and

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the concerned establishment must be functioning

within the local limits of the jurisdiction of such

Labour Court.

Having noted the provisions as above, we are of

the view that the entertainment of the application by

the Labour Court at Dibrugarh was proper in respect

of the claim for subsistence allowance put forward

by the Appellant, we hold that with regard to the

claim for subsistence allowance put forward by the

Appellant against the Respondent bank, the Labour

Court at Dibrugarh has jurisdiction. We accordingly

declare that the Labour Court at Dibrugarh was

competent and had jurisdiction to entertain the claim

for subsistence allowance put forward by the

Appellant. The impugned decision of the learned

Single Judge to the contrary is accordingly interfered

with.”

7.Employer is assailing this common order in these

appeals.

8.Mr. Jagat Arora, learned counsel appearing on behalf of

the appellant submits that in view of clear and unambiguous

language employed in Section 33C(2) of the Industrial

Disputes Act, the money due to an employee can be

adjudicated by a Labour Court specified by the appropriate

Government. He points out that the appropriate Government

admittedly is the Central Government and it having not

specified the Labour Court where the employee had brought

the action, it had no jurisdiction to entertain and adjudicate

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the claim of the employee. In support of the submission

reliance has been placed on a decision of this Court in the

case of Treogi Nath and others vs. Indian Iron and Steel

Co.Ltd. and others (AIR 1968 SC 205) and our attention has

been drawn to the following passage from paragraph 4 of the

judgment which reads as follows:

“The language of S.33-C(2) itself makes it clear that

the appropriate Government has to specify the

Labour Court which is to discharge the functions

under this sub-section. The use of the expression

“specified in this behalf” is significant. The words

“in this behalf” must be given their full import and

effect. They clearly indicate that there must be a

specification by the appropriate Government that a

particular Court is to discharge the function under

S.33-C(2) and, thereupon, it is that court alone

which will have jurisdiction to proceed under that

provision. The mere fact that a Labour Court has

been constituted under S.7(1) of the Act for the

purpose of adjudication of industrial disputes as

well as for performing other functions that may be

assigned to it under the Act does not mean that that

Court is automatically specified as the Court for the

purpose of exercising jurisdiction under S.33-C(2) of

the Act. S.33-C(2) confers jurisdiction only on those

Labour Courts which are specified in this behalf,

i.e., such Labour Courts which are specifically

designated by the State Government for the purpose

of computing the money value of the benefit claimed

by a workman.”

9.Mr. A.K. Panda, learned Senior Counsel, however,

appearing on behalf of the employee-respondent submits that

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in view of the explanation appended to Section 33C of the

Industrial Disputes Act, Labour Court includes any Court

constituted under any law relating to investigation and

settlement of industrial disputes in force in any State and the

Labour Court before which employee laid his claim has been

constituted for investigation and settlement of industrial

disputes, it will have jurisdiction to entertain and adjudicate

the money claim of the employee.

10.Before we advert to the rival submissions it is expedient

to go into the legislative history of the enactment in question.

The Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 as originally enacted did not

provide for any remedy to individual employee to enforce his

existing rights and only way to enforce the existing rights was

to raise an industrial dispute. The legislature inserted Section

20 in the Industrial Disputes (Appellate Tribunal) Act, 1950

(since repealed) which provided for the recovery of the money

due from the employer under an award or decision. Further,

by the Industrial Disputes (Amendment) Act, 1953 the

legislature inserted Chapter 5A to the Industrial Disputes Act,

1947, and for the recovery of money due to an employee from

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his employer Section 25-I was enacted. The aforesaid insertion

confined to the dues under Chapter 5A of the Act only but did

not apply to moneys or benefits due under any award,

settlement or any other provision of the Act. Taking note of the

aforesaid lacunae the legislature passed the Industrial

Disputes (Amendment and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act,

1956. This Act repealed the Industrial Disputes (Appellate

Tribunal) Act, 1950 as also Section 25-I in Chapter 5A of the

Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 and inserted Section 33C in the

later Act. Section 33C as inserted by Amending Act, 1956

made provision for recovery of money due to an employee from

his employer not only under the provision of Chapter 5A but

also under settlement and awards. However, it did not

prescribe any period of limitation and further only the

workman entitled to a money or benefit himself could make an

application. With a view to obviate this lacuna Section 33C of

the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 was recast by Section 23 of

the Industrial Disputes (Amendment) Act, 1964(Act 36 of

1964). Section 33C of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 as

stood before the amendment by Act 36 of 1964 read as follows:

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“Section 33C. Recovery of Money Due from an

Employer – (1) Whey any money is due to a

workman from an employer under a settlement or

an award or, under the provisions of chapter 5A, the

workman may, without prejudice to any other mode

of recovery, make an application to the appropriate

government for the recovery of the money due to

him, and if, the appropriate government is satisfied

that any money is so due, it shall issue a certificate

for that amount to the collector, who shall proceed

to recover the same in the same manner as an

arrear of land revenue.

(2)Where any workman is entitled to receive from

the employer, any benefit which is capable of

being computed in terms of money, the

amount at which such benefit should be

computed may, subject to any rules that may

be made under this Act, be determined by

such labour court as may be specified in this

behalf by the appropriate government and the

amount so determined may be recovered as

provided for in sub-section (1).

(3)For the purpose of computing the money value

of a benefit, the labour court may, if it so

thinks fit, appoint a commissioner who shall,

after taking such evidence as may be

necessary, submit a report to the labour court

and the labour court shall determine the

amount after considering the report of the

commissioner and other circumstances of the

case.”

11.Section 33C of the Industrial Disputes Act, as amended

by Section 23 of the Amendment Act 36 of 1964 made

substantial changes in law with which we are not concerned in

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the present appeals, except explanation inserted in Section

33C, the effect whereof shall be considered in this judgment.

Section 33C(2) and (5) of Industrial Disputes Act, as it stands

today read as follows :

“33C. Recovery of money due from an employer –

(1) xxx xxx xxx xxx

(2) Where any workman is entitled to receive from the

employer any money or any benefit which is capable

of being computed in terms of money and if the

question arises as to the amount of money due or as

to the amount at which such benefit should be

computed, then the question may, subject to any

rules that may be made under this Act, be decided

by such Labour Court as may be specified in this

behalf by the appropriate Government.

(3) xxx xxx xxx xxx

(4)xxx xxx xxx xxx

(5)Where workmen employed under the same

employer are entitled to receive from him any money

or any benefit capable of being computed in terms of

money, then subject to such rules as may be made in

this behalf, a single application for the recovery of

the amount due may be made on behalf of or in

respect of any number of such workmen.

Explanation.—In this section “Labour Court” includes

any court constituted under any law relating to

investigation and settlement of industrial disputes in

force in any State.”

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12.From a plain reading of Section 33C(2) it is evident that

money due to a workman has to be decided by such Labour

Court “as may be specified in this behalf by the appropriate

Government.” Section 7 of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947

inter alia confers power to the appropriate Government for

constitution of one or more Labour courts for the adjudication

of industrial disputes. It also prescribes qualification for

appointment as Presiding Officer of a Labour Court.

Explanation appended to Section 33C of the Act provides to

include any Court constituted under any law relating to

investigation and settlement of industrial disputes in force

in any State as Labour Court. The underlying object behind

inserting explanation seems to be varying qualification

prescribed for appointment of Presiding Officers of Labour

Court by different State enactments. The Parliament took

note of the fact while inserting explanation that there are

different kinds of Labour Courts constituted under

Industrial Disputes Act and State Acts and a question

may arise whether a Labour Court constituted under Acts,

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Central or State could entertain a claim made under Section

33C(2) of the Act.

13.An explanation is appended ordinarily to a section to

explain the meaning of words contained in that section. In

view of the explanation aforesaid Labour Court shall include

any Court constituted under any law relating to investigation

and settlement of industrial disputes in force in any State.

Money due to an employee under Section 33C(2) is to be

decided by “Labour Court as may be specified in this behalf by

the appropriate Government”. Therefore, the expression

“Labour Court” in Section 33C(2) has to be given an extended

meaning so as to include Court constituted under any law

relating to investigation and settlement of industrial disputes

in force in any State. It widens the choice of appropriate

Government and it can specify not only the Labour Courts

constituted under Section 7 of the Industrial Disputes Act,

1947 but such other Courts constituted under any other law

relating to investigation and settlement of industrial disputes

in force in any State.

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14.But this does not end the controversy. The power to

adjudicate money claim is to the Labour Court “as may be

specified in this behalf by the appropriate Government”. Every

word used by the Legislature carries meaning and therefore

effort has to be made to give meaning to each and every word

used by it. A construction brushing aside words in a Statute

is not a sound principle of construction. The Court avoids a

construction, if reasonably permissible on the language, which

renders an expression or part of the Statute devoid of any

meaning or application. Legislature never waste its words or

says anything in vain and a construction rejecting the words

of a Statute is not resorted to, excepting for compelling

reasons. There does not exist any reason, much less

compelling reason to adopt a construction, which renders the

words “as may be specified in this behalf” used in Section

33C(2) of the Act as redundant. These words have to be given

full meaning. These words in no uncertain terms indicate that

there has to be specification by the appropriate Government

that a particular court shall have jurisdiction to decide money

claim under Section 33C(2) of the Act and it is that court alone

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which shall have the jurisdiction. Appropriate Government

can specify the court or courts by general or special order in

its discretion. In the present case, there is nothing on record

to show that the Labour Court at Dibrugarh has been specified

by the appropriate Government, i.e., Central Government for

adjudication of the disputes under Section 33C(2) of the

Industrial Disputes Act. This question in our opinion has

squarely been answered by this Court in the case of Treogi

Nath (Supra). True it is that rendering this decision, this

Court did not consider the explanation appended to Section

33C of the Act, as the lis pertained to period earlier to

amendment but in view of what we have said above, excepting

the widening of choice pertaining to Courts, explanation does

not dispense with the requirement of specification of court by

appropriate Government.

15.Having said so the next question which falls for

determination is as to whether Labour Court at Dibrugarh

could have entertained the application under Section 10-A of

Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Act, 1946. Section

10A of the Act reads as follows:

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“10-A. Payment of subsistence allowance.—

(1) Where any workman is suspended by the

employer pending investigation or inquiry into

complaints or charges of misconduct against him,

the employer shall pay to such workman

subsistence allowance-

(a) at the rate of fifty per cent of the wages

which workman was entitled to immediately

preceding the date of such suspension, for the first

ninety days of suspension; and

(b) at the rate of seventy-five per cent of such

wages for the remaining period of suspension if the

delay in the completion of disciplinary proceedings

against such workman is not directly attributable to

the conduct of such workman.

(2) If any dispute arises regarding the

subsistence allowance payable to a workman under

sub-section (1), the workman or the employer

concerned may refer the dispute to the Labour

Court, constituted under the Industrial Disputes

Act, 1947 (14 of 1947), within the local limits of

whose jurisdiction the industrial establishment

wherein such workman is employed is situate and

the Labour Court to which the dispute is so referred

shall, after giving the parties an opportunity of

being heard, decide the dispute and such decision

shall be final and binding on the parties.

(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in the

foregoing provisions of this section, where

provisions relating to payment of subsistence

allowance under any other law for the time being in

force in any State are more beneficial than the

provisions of this section, the provisions of such

other law shall be applicable to the payment of

subsistence allowance in that State.”

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16.From a plain reading of the Section 10A(2) of the

aforesaid Act it is evident that the Labour Court constituted

under the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 within the local limits

of whose jurisdiction the establishment is situated, has

jurisdiction to decide any dispute regarding subsistence

allowance. Here in the present case undisputedly dispute

pertains to subsistence allowance and the Labour Court where

the workman had brought the action has been constituted

under Section 7 of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 and

further the appellant bank is situated within the local limits of

its jurisdiction. The workman had, though, chosen to file

application under Section 33C(2) of the Industrial Disputes

Act but that in our opinion shall not denude jurisdiction to

the Labour Court, if it otherwise possesses jurisdiction.

Incorrect label of the application and mentioning wrong

provision neither confers jurisdiction nor denudes the Court of

its jurisdiction. Relief sought for, if falls within the jurisdiction

of the Court, it can not be thrown out on the ground of its

erroneous label or wrong mentioning of provision. In the

present case the Labour Court, Dibrugarh satisfies all the

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requirements to decide the dispute raised by the employee

before it.

17.As the matter is pending before Labour Court since long,

it shall make endeavour to finally decide the dispute within 6

months from today. Appellant as also respondent are directed

to appear before the Labour Court, within four weeks from

today.

18.In the result, both the appeals are dismissed with cost,

quantified at Rs.25,000/- to be paid by the appellant to the

respondent.

………………………………….J.

( G.S. SINGHVI )

………………………………….J.

( C.K. PRASAD )

New Delhi,

July 6, 2010.

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