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NON-REPORTABLE IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION

CIVIL APPEAL NOS. 1718-1719 OF 2001            

CENTRAL AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH INST.& ANR.  APPELLANTS                                        VERSUS

PRESIDING OFFICER, LABOUR COURT & ORS. RESPONDENTS                            

WITH CIVIL APPEAL NOS. 1720-1721 OF 2001

WITH CIVIL APPEAL NOS. 1722-1723 OF 2001

J U D G M E N T KURIAN, J.

1. The appellants approached this Court challenging the Award passed by the Labour Court and as confirmed by the High Court. 2. Taking note of the fact that the appellants have paid  wages  in  terms  of  the  Section  17  B  of  the Industrial  Disputes  Act,  1947  for  quite  long,   a suggestion  was  made  as  to  whether  the  appellants would be interested to have a one-time settlement, leaving   the  question  of  law,  as  to  whether  the Appellant No.1 is an industry or not, open.

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- 2 - 3. Apropos the suggestion, the appellants have now framed a Scheme,  a copy of which has been produced before this Court alongwith additional affidavit. 4. The  learned  counsel  for  contesting  respondents submits that the scheme as such is not acceptable to the  workers.   Be  that  as  it  may,  now  that  the appellants have framed a Scheme with regard to the settlement of grievance of the party-respondents, we are of the view that these appeals should be disposed of directing the appellants to implement the Scheme, in  substitution of  the award  passed by  the Labour Court. Ordered accordingly. 5. However,  we  make  it  clear  that  in  case  the party-respondents  have  any  surviving  grievance,  it will be open to them to make a representation before appellant  No.1  or  pursue  the  same  in  appropriate proceedings. 6. In view of the ensuing Diwali Festival, we direct the appellants to disburse the benefits in terms of the Scheme on or before 29th October, 2016. 7 The appeals are disposed of.

No costs. ......................J.

  [KURIAN JOSEPH]  

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

 NEW DELHI  OCTOBER 24, 2016