Delayed Labor Court Reference: Supreme Court Directs Himachal Pradesh Government to Consider Workers’ Cases
The Supreme Court of India recently ruled in the case of Daler Khan & Ors. v. State of Himachal Pradesh & Ors., concerning the delay in referring labor disputes to the Labour Court. The judgment emphasizes that workers should not suffer due to procedural delays when their claims have merit.
Background of the Case
The appellants, a group of workers, had approached the Himachal Pradesh High Court seeking a reference of their dispute to the Labour Court. Their request was denied by the High Court on the grounds of excessive delay in filing their claim. The workers then appealed to the Supreme Court, arguing that similar cases had been referred to the Labour Court despite similar delays.
Legal Issue Before the Supreme Court
The primary legal issue before the Supreme Court was:
- Whether the Himachal Pradesh government should refer the appellants’ cases to the Labour Court despite the delay.
Arguments by the Appellants
The workers contended that:
- The delay in seeking reference was due to their lack of awareness and financial constraints.
- Similar cases had already been referred to the Labour Court, and they should be treated equally.
- Not referring their cases would amount to discrimination and violate the principles of fairness and equity.
Arguments by the State of Himachal Pradesh
The State argued that:
- The appellants had approached the court after an unreasonable delay.
- Allowing such delayed claims would set a wrong precedent and burden the Labour Court with stale disputes.
- The government had the discretion to decide which cases should be referred, and the High Court’s decision should be upheld.
Supreme Court’s Observations
The Supreme Court noted that in similar cases, references had already been made to the Labour Court despite delays. The Court observed:
“The delay in seeking reference should not become a reason to deny workers their right to seek justice, especially when similar cases have been referred.”
The Court also highlighted that procedural delays should not defeat substantive justice and emphasized that the rights of workers must be protected.
Final Judgment
The Supreme Court allowed the appeal and directed the Himachal Pradesh government to refer the appellants’ cases to the Labour Court, ignoring the delay.
- The state government was given two months to complete the process.
- The Court clarified that pending applications related to the matter were disposed of.
- There would be no order as to costs.
Conclusion
This judgment reinforces the principle that workers should not be denied justice due to procedural delays. By directing the government to refer the cases despite the delay, the Supreme Court has ensured that labor rights are upheld and that workers receive a fair opportunity to present their claims.
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Download Judgment: Daler Khan & Ors. vs State of Himachal Pr Supreme Court of India Judgment Dated 06-11-2017.pdf
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