At, High Court of Rajasthan Jaipur Bench
By, THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE SANGEET LODHA & THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE MAHENDAR KUMAR GOYAL
For the Appellant:- Mr. Tapeshwar Pal Singh Parmar, Advocate. For the Respondents: -------
Judgment Text
Sangeet Lodha, J.
1. This intra court appeal is directed against order dated 22.7.19 passed by the learned Single Judge of this Court, whereby the writ petition preferred by the appellant against the award dated 29.7.11 passed by the Labour Court awarding compensation a sum of Rs. 1,00,000/- in lieu of reinstatement in service, has been dismissed.
2. The appeal is reported to be barred by limitation for 69 days. It is accompanied by an application under Section 5 of the Limitation Act. The explanation furnished for delay in filing the appeal is not plausible and acceptable and therefore, the application deserves to be rejected. However, in the interest of justice, we have examined the matter on merits as well.
3. Precisely, it was contended on behalf of the appellant before the learned Single Judge that the compensation awarded by the Labour Court in lieu of reinstatement is in the lower side which deserves to be enhanced to at least Rs. 3,00,000/-.
4. The learned Single Judge has dismissed the petition observing that the appellant had worked with the respondent only for a period of 1 years and thus, the compensation awarded is appropriate and does not call for any interference.
5. Learned counsel appearing for the appellant contended that in the matter of Secretary, Rajasthan State Agriculture Marketing Board, Rajasthan v. Ram Swaroop (D.B.Special Appeal Writ No.15/18) decided by a Bench of this Court vide order dated 5.9.18, the lump sum compensation of Rs. 3,00,000/- was awarded in lieu of reinstatement in service and full and final settlement of the claim and thus, in the instant case, the compensation awarded by the Labour Court being too meagre deserves to be enhanced by this Court.
6. It is well settled that while determining the issue regarding reinstatement in service, the Industrial Tribunal/Labour Court is required to exercise the discretion vested in it judicially and the relevant factors therefor such as nature of appointment, the period of appointment, the availability of job etc. should weigh with the court for determination of such issue.
7. In the instant case, where the appellant was employed as Labourer in the Department of Public Works as daily wages employee and not against the regular post in the cadre and had worked only for the period from 1st July, 1999 to April, 2000. The dispute was raised after a lapse of 3 years. In this view of the matter, the discretion exercised by the Labour Court in awarding compensation to the appellant a sum of Rs. 1,00,000/- in lieu of reinstatement appears to be just and proper.
8. In Ram Swaroop's case (supra) relied upon by the appellant, the workman was appointed on regular basis and not as a daily wages employee. In any case, no hard and fast rule can be laid down for determination of compensation in lieu of reinstatem
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ent. The award of compensation has to be determined keeping in view the facts and circumstances of each case. Thus, in our considered opinion, the learned Single Judge has committed no error in declining to interfere with the award passed by the Labour Court. 9. The intra court appeal is accordingly dismissed.