State Of M.P. & Anr vs M.P.Transport Workers Fedn

Sanjay Kishan Kaul, J

The Labour Bar Association, Satna and M.P. Transport Workers Federation sought to assail the provisions of the Madhya Pradesh Labour Laws

(Amendment) and Misc. Provisions Act, 2002 (for short ‘the Amendment’) enforced by Notification dated 5.8.2005 as ultra vires the provisions

of Article 14 of the Constitution. The history to the dispute is that the power to try offences under labour laws was conferred on the Labour Courts

vide Madhya Pradesh Amendment Act No.43 of 1981, as against the regular criminal Courts. That process was sought to be reversed by the

Amendment which was assailed. The rationale was stated to be that the Labour Courts were already burdened and thus, did not have time to

adjudicate even the disputes arising out of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 and the M.P. Industrial Relations Act, 1960. On the other hand, the parties

assailing the said Amendment canvassed that the object of shifting the trial of criminal cases relating to labour disputes to Labour Courts had been

conferred by Legislation for promoting industrial harmony.

In terms of an elaborate judgment of over fifty pages this Amendment was struck down primarily on the ground that Article 21 gave a right for

speedy justice and the Amendment in a way took away this right of speedy justice.

We have heard learned counsel for the State and since none appeared for the respondents, we deemed it appropriate to appoint Mr. V. Giri, learned

senior counsel as Amicus Curiae to assist us in the matter. Thus, we have the benefit even of his submissions.

We may note the fact that such criminal offences relating to labour laws of almost 16 statutes were being tried by the criminal Courts till 1981.

Thus, the experiment of assigning these cases to the Labour Courts was carried from that year till 2002. The matters were transferred to the criminal

Courts as a sequitur to the Amendment of 2002, till the said Amendment was struck down by the impugned order dated 01.08.2008.

On the appellant-State approaching this Court, notice was issued on 06.01.2009 and the operation of the impugned order was stayed. Leave was

granted on 20.07.2009 and the interim order was made absolute. The result is that the criminal Courts continued to try the offences relating to labour

disputes even during the last 11 years.

We have to be conscious of the fact that we are debating the legality of a Legislation which has passed the muster of the elected Legislative

Assembly and has received the assent of the President of India. The scope of challenge to such a Legislation is within a limited domain i.e. on the twin

test of (1) lack of Legislative competence and (2) violation of any of Fundamental Rights guaranteed in Part III of the Constitution of India. This

principle of law has been repeatedly emphasized by this Court in Greater Bombay Co-operative Bank Ltd. v. United Yarn Tex (P) Ltd (2007) 6 SCC

In the facts of the present case, there is no doubt about the Legislative competence and thus, it is only the second aspect which has to be

examined. The impugned judgment seeks to bring the challenge within the window of Article 21 of the Constitution of India, under the right to speedy

trial.

Actually what has been done is that the cases which ought to have been tried by the regular criminal Courts were sought to be transferred to the

Labour Courts by the Amendment of 1981 and only that process was sought to be reversed by the impugned Amendment of 2002. Thus, in the

wisdom of the Legislature, the process would be better served by maintaining the regular criminal Courts as a forum for adjudication of such disputes

which have a criminal aspect, relating to the identical 16 labour law statutes. It is not the function of this Court to test the wisdom of the Legislature

and substitute its mind with the same, as has been reiterated in the cases of State of Andhra Pradesh & Ors. v. McDowell & Co. & Ors. (1996) 3

SCC 709. & Mylapore Club v. State of Tamil Nadu (2005) 12 SCC 752. It is for the Legislature to weigh this aspect as to what would be the

appropriate method for providing expeditious justice to the common man â€" an aspect which would be common both to the wisdom of the Legislature

and of the judiciary.

The process as evolved shows that the system, as it is, is working in the criminal Courts for the last more than a decade and no grievance has been

made about the same. The absence of any representation on behalf of the respondent(s) further gives credence to this reasoning.

We are of the view that it is really not possible to sustain the impugned order which is accordingly set aside and the provisions of Madhya Pradesh

Labour Laws (Amendment) & Misc. Provisions Act, 2002 are upheld.

The appeals are accordingly allowed leaving the parties to bear their own costs.

We appreciate the assistance rendered by Mr. V. Giri, learned Amicus Curiae.