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NON-REPORTABLE   

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION

CIVIL APPEAL NO.8389 OF 2016   (Arising out of SLP (C) No. 24606 of 2016)

BHARAT ELECTRONICS  WORKERS UNION   APPELLANT                                                                     VERSUS

BHARAT ELECTRONICS LTD. AND ORS. RESPONDENTS    

J U D G M E N T KURIAN, J.    

Issue notice. 2. Mr.  Sanjay  Kapur,  learned  counsel  waives  notice  on behalf of respondent Nos. 1 & 2.

3. Leave granted.                  

4. As per order dated 16.09.2015 in LPA No. 590 of 2014 (O & M), the High Court of Punjab and Haryana had ordered the following:

“....  Consequently,  we  hold  that  the  reference  as framed,  is  contrary  to  the  standing  orders  and, therefore, not tenable.  The reference is set aside but with liberty to the “appropriate Government (Government of India, Ministry of Labour)” to take a fresh decision in accordance with law, after considering the grievance of the workmen, which in our prima facie opinion may relate to the nature of the transfer orders and not to the absence of a policy and also objections, if any, that may be raised by the appellants, within a period of six weeks from the date of receipt of certified copy of this order.  During this period, transfer orders shall  remain  in  abeyance.   The  impugned  order  is, therefore, set aside and the appeal is allowed in the above terms.”

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5. We are informed that pursuant to the order passed by the High Court, a fresh Reference has been made to the Central Government Industrial Tribunal, Chandigarh on 01.02.2016 and the same is pending before the said Tribunal.

6. Mr.  Sanjay  Kapur,  learned  counsel  appearing  for respondent Nos. 1 & 2 points out that during this period, 11 out of 15 workmen had already joined their new work place and only 4 are yet to join.

7. In the above factual matrix, we do not propose to go into the validity of the impugned order passed by the High Court by which  the  High  Court  has  declined  to  grant  any  stay  of transfer.

8. We  direct  the  Central  Government  Industrial  Tribunal, Chandigarh  to  dispose  of  the  Reference  and  pass  an  award expeditiously and at any rate within a period of four months.   9. Till the Reference is answered, the status quo, as on today, with regard to the place of work of the remaining  4 workmen, shall be maintained.

10. We record the submission of the learned counsel appearing for  both sides  that the  parties would  co-operate with  the Tribunal for the expeditious disposal of the Reference.

11. With the above observations, the appeal is disposed of.

      .................J. [KURIAN JOSEPH]

 ....................J.       [ROHINTON FALI NARIMAN]

NEW DELHI;   AUGUST 29,2016