By Staff Reporter
The Fact of the Case:
On 22 Aug 2018, Hon Bombay High Court delivered a historic judgement on society’s locus as “Industry”.
The petition challenges an award passed by the Labour Court at Mumbai in a reference made to it under the Industrial Disputes Act. The controversy concerns the claim of reinstatement with full back wages and continuity of service of original Respondent No.1. By the impugned award, the reference was allowed and reinstatement with full back wages and continuity in service was ordered. That order was challenged in the present petition chiefly on the ground that the Petitioner, against whom the award was passed, is not an “industry” within the meaning of Section 2(j) of the Industrial Disputes Act.
The Judgement:
Court held that In the present case, merely because the society charged some extra charges from a few of its members for display of neon signs, the society cannot be treated as an industry carrying on business of hiring out of neon signs or allowing display of advertisements. In the premises, the impugned award of the Labour Court suffers from a serious error of jurisdiction.
Rule is, accordingly, made absolute and the petition allowed. The reference before the Labour Court is held to be not maintainable and the order of reinstatement with continuity of service and full back wages passed by the Labour Court is quashed and set aside. No order as to costs.
For Judgement download : Click Here
