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Judgment
Vinod Goel, J
CAV. No. 140/2018
Since Mr.Satyabrata Panda, Advocate for the caveator, appears, the caveat stands discharged.
CM No. 6543/2018 (exemption)
Exemptions allowed subject to all just exceptions.
Application stands disposed of.
W.P. (C) 1590/2018 & CM No. 6542/2018 (for stay)
The petitioner seeks quashing of the order bearing No.07/WJA/DLC/NDD/2017/3324-3327 dated 24.11.2017 passed by Sh. U.K. Sinha, Authority
under Working Journalists & Other Newspaper Employees (Condition of Service and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1955 (hereinafter referred to as
‘Working Journalists Act’) and consequent Recovery Certificate No.07/WJA/DLC/NDD/2017/3357-3361 dated 30.11.2017 directing recovery
of Rs.38,37,594/- against them in favour of the respondent no.2.
Based on the recommendations of Majithia Wage Board Award which were admittedly accepted by the Central Government on 11.11.2011 the
respondent no.2 moved an application before the Deputy Labour Commissioner (in short ‘DLC’) to initiate the proceedings under Section 17(1)
of the Working Journalists Act for recovery of Rs.38,37,594/-.
Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that Deputy Labour Commissioner/respondent no.1 has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the matter. In this
regard, he relies upon the judgment of a Single Bench of this Court in the case of The Associated Press through its General Manager Vs. Laurinda
Keys and Anr., MANU/DE/1461/2009, wherein it was held that Section 17 (2) of the Working Journalists Act & Other Newspaper Employees Act,
1955 will apply when disputed questions of fact, disputed question of law or when mixed disputed question of facts and law arise and the jurisdiction of
the State Government and Authorized Authority is limited under Section 17 (1) of the Act and confined to narrow examination for satisfaction as to
whether any amount can be recovered. It was further held that a detailed or elaborate inquiry into disputes and counter claims whether they relate to
law, facts or are mixed questions of law and facts is not envisaged under Section 17 (1) of the Act. He submits that the State Government should
have made a reference under Section 17 (2) of the Act to the Labour Court for adjudication.
The Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of Avishek Raja & Ors. Vs. Sanjay Gupta, (2017) 8 SCC 435, while dealing with the recommendations
of Majithia Wage Board, has held that the dispute that arises has to be resolved by the fact findings authority under Section 17 of the Working
Journalists Act. It was further held in para no. 29 that henceforth all complaints with regard to non-implementation of the Majithia Wage Board
Award or otherwise be dealt with in terms of the mechanism provided under Section 17 of the Act and it would be more appropriate to resolve such
complaints and grievances by resort to the enforcement and remedial machinery provided under the Act rather than by any future approaches to the
courts in exercise of the competent jurisdiction of the courts or otherwise.
By order dated 04.10.2016 in the case of Avishek Raja & Ors. Vs. Sanjay Gupta in Contempt Petition (C) No. 411/2014 in W.P. (C) 246/2011, the
Hon’ble Supreme Court directed that in all cases where there is a dispute with regard to the amount payable, the State Governments shall act
under the provisions of Section 17(2) of the Working Journalists Act and Labour Court will finalize its award expeditiously and send the same to the
State Government for due execution.
At this stage, learned counsel for the respondent no.2, having admitted the legal position as referred to in preceding para, on instructions, submits
that he has no objection in case the impugned orders dated 24.11.2017 and 30.11.2017 passed in favour of Respondent no. 2 by the Deputy Labour
Commissioner under Section 17 (1) of the under Working Journalists Act are set-aside and the State Government is directed to refer the disputes
under Section 17 (2) of the Working Journalists Act for adjudication to the Labour Court.
In view of the submissions made by the learned counsel for the parties, this writ petition is disposed of with the direction that the respondent
no.1/Govt. of NCT of Delhi shall make a reference of dispute between the petitioner and Respondent no.2 under Section 17 (2) of the Working
Journalists Act to the Labour Court within a period of two months from the date of receipt of the order, and the Labour Court after receiving the
reference from the State Government shall dispose of the matter expeditiously within a period of six months.