Holding

The transfer is governed by Schedule III item 2 and does not require notice under Section 42(1), and a Letters Patent Appeal is maintainable when the principal order of the Single Judge is under Article 226.

Summary

The employees of Garden Silk Mills were transferred from the Crimping Department to the Twisting Department and claimed that the transfer constituted a change under items 1 and 2 of Schedule II of the Bombay Industrial Relations Act, 1946, requiring notice under Section 42(1). The employer argued that the transfer was merely an assignment of work covered by item 2 of Schedule III, which does not require notice. The High Court Single Judge dismissed the employer’s petition under Articles 226 and 227, and the employer appealed under Clause 15 of the Letters Patent. The Supreme Court held that the transfer falls within Schedule III item 2, not Schedule II, so no notice was required, and that the Letters Patent appeal was maintainable because the Single Judge’s order was principally under Article 226. Consequently, the appeal was dismissed.

Issues considered

Whether the transfer of workers from the Crimping Department to the Twisting Department amounts to a change covered by items 1 and 2 of Schedule II of the Bombay Industrial Relations Act, 1946, thereby requiring notice under Section 42(1).
Whether a Letters Patent Appeal under Clause 15 of the Bombay High Court Letters Patent is maintainable against a judgment of a Single Judge in a writ petition that mentions both Articles 226 and 227 of the Constitution.

Legislation cited

Bombay Industrial Relations Act, 1946s. 42(1), s. 46(4)

Subjects

Industrial relationsTransfer of workersNotice of changeBombay Industrial Relations ActLetters Patent AppealArticle 226Article 227Schedule interpretationLabour law

Judgment

(2009) 13 (ADDL.) S.C.R. 886

A ASHOK K. JHA & ORS. +
v.
GARDEN SILK MILLS & ANR.
(Civil Appeal No. 5854 of 2009)

AUGUST 28, 2009
B
[TARUN CHATTERJEE AND R.M. LODHA, JJ.]

Bombay Industrial Relations Act, 1946: s.42(1 ),
Schedule II, Item 1 and 2, Schedule Ill, Item 2 - Notice of
c change - Transfer of workers within establishment - From
Crimping Department to Twisting Department - Held: Would
not attract Item Nos. 1 and 2 of Schedule II but would be
covered by Item 2 of Schedule Ill for which no notice under
s.42(1) was necessary - Orders of transfer clearly stated that +--
D there was no change in service conditions of workers and the
type of work also remained the same - Burden to establish f
that number of workers in the two departments was determined
and that due to action of employer, there was decrease or
increase in number of workers in the two departments not
E discharged by workers - Workers also did not lead evidence
in support of their contention that there was difference in
nature of machines in the Crimping and Twisting Departments
and that they were not trained to work on Twisting Machines
- Labour Laws.
F Letters Patent: Clause 15 - Letters Patent Appeal -
Maintainability of, against judgment of Single Judge of High
Court in writ petition filed under Articles 226 and 227 - Held:
If judgment under appeal falls squarely within four corners of
Article 227, intra court appeal from such judgment would not
G be maintainable - But if the petitioner invoked jurisdiction of
High Court for issuance of certain writ under Article 226,
although Article 227 is also mentioned, and principally the
+ "'
judgment appealed against falls under Article 226, appeal
would be maintainable - Statement by Single Judge that he
H 886
ASHOK K. JHA & ORS. v. GARDEN SILK MILLS & 887
ANR.

+ exercised power under Article 227, cannot take away right of A
appeal against such judgment if power is otherwise found to
have been exercised under Article 226 - Constitution of India,
1950 - Arts. 226 and 227.

Respondent-employer has many departments B
including Crimping Department and Twisting Department.
The appellants-employees, who were working as
Crimping Operators in the Crimping Department, were
transferred to the Twisting Department. They requested
the employer to withdraw the transfer order, but the C
employer expressed its inability to do the same. The
employees then approached the Labour Court
contending that they were not conversant to run the
twisting machines and by transferring them from
Crimping Department to Twisting Department, there is
0
total change in the type of their work and that their
transfer by the employer tantamounts to change in
respect of matter specified in items nos.1 and 2 of
Schedule II of the the Bombay Industrial Relations Act,
1946 and, therefore, notice of change under Section 42(1)
was required to be given and the prescribed procedure E
must have been necessarily followed. The employer
contested on diverse grounds, inter alia, that there was .
no change in respect of service conditions, pay scale,
benefits, designation and type of work as well as
continuity of service by transfer of these employees from F
Crimping Department to the Twisting Department. The
employer denied that their action of transferring the
employees was covered by item nos.1 and 2 of Schedule
II but, according to them, their action was covered under
item 2 of Schedule Ill of the BIR Act. G

+ The Labour Court recorded a finding that the
employees had failed to prove that the employer had
made change in relation to item nos. 1 and 2 of Schedule
H
888 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2009] 13 (ADDL.) S.C.R.

A II. On appeal by, employees and the union, the Industrial +
Court set aside the order of the Labour Court and
directed the employer to withdraw. the orders of transfer
and to entrust to the employees, work of the original post:
The employer challenged the order of the Industrial Court
B by filing petition under Articles 226 and 227 of the 'I:
.Constitution. The Single Judge of High Court dismissed
the petition. Aggrieved, the employer preferred Letters t
Patent Appeal under Clause 15 of the Letters Patent
~
before the Division Bench which set aside the judgment
c by the
of Single Judge and restored the judgment passed
the Labour Court.

The questions which arose for consideration in the
present appeal were whether the transfer of the ~

employees (appellants) from Crimping Department to
D Twisting Department by respondent-employer would
•
tantamounted to change in respect of matter specified in -r
item nos.1 and 2 of Schedule II necessitating notice under
Section 42(1) of the Act and whether Letters Patent ~

Appeal under 'Clause 15 of the Letters Patent was
E maintainable from the judgment and order passed by the
single Judge in the writ petition filed under Articles 226
and 227 of the Constitution.

Dismissing the appeal, the Court ~
F HELD:1.1. Section 46(4) of the Bombay Industrial
Relations Act, 1946 provides that no employer shall make
any change in any industrial matter mentioned in
Schedule II before giving notice of change as required by
the provisions of sub-section (1) of Section 42 and any
G change made in contravention of the provisions of sub-
Section (1 ), (2) of (3) shall be illegal. Items 1 and 2 of
Schedule II deal with reduction in the number of persons +
employed or to be employed in any occupation or
process or department or departments or in a shift or
H
ASHOK K. JHA & ORS. v. GARDEN SILK MILLS & 889
ANR.

+ permanent or semi permanent increase in the number of A
persons employed or to be employed in any occupation
-)
or process or department or departments. Item 2 of
Schedule Ill refers to assignment of work and transfer of
workers within the establishment." The expression,
'assignment of work and transfer of workers within the B
establishment' is plain and admits of no ambiguity. If the
orders of transfer are of the description mentioned in item
-\- 2 of Schedule Ill, item 2 of Schedule Ill must come into
full play. Item nos. 1 and 2 of Schedule II operate
altogether in a different field. A mere transfer of workers c
within the establishment would not attract Item Nos. 1
and 2 of Schedule II but would be covered by Item 2 of
Schedule Ill as there is a specific item in this regard. A
specific item would exclude the items of general character
and, in that view of the matter, in the matters of transfer
D
~ of workers within the establishment and assignment of
work by the employer, the specific Item 2 of Schedule Ill
is attracted. [Paras 18 and 22] [899-E-F; 900-A-E]

1.2. In the present case, the orders of transfer
apparently make it clear that there is no change in the E
service conditions of the workers viz. the workers
continue to enjoy same pay scales, rights and benefits
flowing from service and the type of work also remains
~ the same. The only thing that has been done by the
impugned orders of transfer is that these workers have F
........ been asked to discharge their duties in the Twisting
Department instead of Crimping Department. The
employees did not produce any evidence to establish that ·
there was difference in the work in the Crimping
Department and the Twisting Department or that work of G
operator at the crimping and twisting machines is
'!' t different. In the absence of any evidence by the workers
about any fixed number of workers in the Crimping
Department and Twisting Department, there is no
H
SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2009] 13 (ADDL.) S.C.R.
r I
890 I
I

'A
. .
foundation laid for consideration of the question of
reduction in the Crimping Department and increase in
+.
number in the Twisting Department by impugned orders ..
of transfer. Obviously, the burden lay on the workers to
establish that the number of workers in each of these
B departments i.e. Crimping Department and Twisting
Department has been determined and that due to the
action of the employer, there has been decrease or
increase in the number of workers in these two -I
departments. The workers also did not lead evidence in
c support of their contention that there was difference in
the nature ·of machines in the Crimping and Twisting
Departments and that workers were not trained to work
at Twisting Machines. The first question is thus answered
in the negative. [Paras 23-25 and 27] [900-F-H; 901-A-D; ~

902-C]
D _,_
2.1. If the judgment under appeal falls squarely within
four corners of Article 227, it goes without saying that
intra court appeal from such judgment would not be
maintainable. On the other hand, if the petitioner has
E invoked the jurisdiction of the High Court for issuance
of certain writ under Article 226, although Article 227 is
also mentioned~ and principally the judgment appealed
against falls under Article 226, the appeal would be
maintainable. What is important to be ascertained is the ~

F true nature of order passed by the Single Judge and not :
, ..!=
what provision he mentions while exercising such
powers. A statement by Single Judge that he has
'
exercised power under Article 227, cannot take away '
right of appeal against such judgment if power is ~

G otherwise found to have been exercised under Article
~
226. The vital factor for determination of maintainability ...
of intra court appeal is the nature of jurisdiction invoked + ...,.,,
by the party and the true nature of .principal order passed
by the Single Judge. [Para 35] {911-B-F]
H
ASHOK K. JHA & ORS. v. GARDEN SILK MILLS & 891
ANR.

2.2. Insofar as the present case is concerned, in the A
cause title· of the writ petition, Articles 226 and 227 of the
Constitution was mentioned. A careful reading of the writ
petition shows that writ· petition is not confined to
supervisory jurisdiction of the High Court. The employer
invoked jurisdiction of the High Court by praying for a 8
writ of certiorari. The judgment of the Single Judge is,
thus, traceable to Article 226. The statement made by the
Single Judge in his order that no case for interference is
made out under Article 227 of the Constitution is not
decisive. Moreover, the Division Bench in its order c
observed, "though long drawn arguments were
advanced on the question of maintainability of this
appeal, there really was not a serious contest on the
question of maintainability of the appeal." For .all these
reasons, Letters Patent Appeal was maintainable from the
0
order passed by the Single Judge. [Para 36] [911-F-G;
912-A-B]

- Umaji Kesho Meshram vs. Radhikabai 1986 (Supp)
SCC 401; Ratnagiri District Central Co-operative Bank Ltd.
v. Dinkar Kashinath Wative 1993 (Suppl.) 1 SCC 9; E
Sushilabai Laxminarayan Mudliyar and others vs. Nihalchand
Waghajibhai Shah and Others 1993 Suppl. (1) SCC 11;
Kishori Lal vs. Sales Officer, District Land Development Bank
and Ors. 2006 (7) SCC 496; State of Madhya Pradesh and
Ors. vs. Visan Kumar Shiv Charan Lal AIR 2009 ,SC 1999 F
and Ramesh Chandra Sank/a vs. Vikram Cement AIR 2009
SC 713, relied on.

Case Law Reference:
1986 (Supp) sec 401 relied on Para 28 G
1993 (Suppl.) 1 SCC 9 relied on Para 29
1993 Suppl. (1) SCC 11 relied on Para 30
2006 (7) sec 496 relied on Para 31
H
892 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2009) 13 (ADDL.) S.C.R.

A AIR 2009 SC 1999 relied on Para 32
+
AIR 2009 SC 713 relied on Para 32
CIVIL AP PELLATE JURISDICTION : Civil Appeal No.
5854 of 2009.
B
From the Judgment & Order dated 14.5.2008 of the High
Court of Gujarat at Ahmedabad in Letters Patent Appeal No.
2320 of 2007.
+
Meenakshi Arora for the Appellants.
c
Mukul Rohatgi, Sanjay Kapur, Rajiv Kapur, Shubhra Kapur,
Arit Singh, D.G. Chauhan for the Respondent.

The Judgment of the coyrt was delivered by
D R.M. LODHA, J. 1. Leave granted.
-j;

E
2. Two questions that arise for consideration in this appeal
by special leave are:

(1) Whether transfer of the 31 employees (appellants) from
-
Crimping Department to Twisting Department by the
respondent - employer tantamounts to change in respect
of matter specified in item nos. 1 and 2 of Schedule II
necessitating notice under Section 42(1) of the Bombay
Industrial Relations Act, 1946? ~
F
(2) Whether Letters Patent Appeal under Clause 15 of the
Letters Patent was maintainable from the judgment and .....-
order dated October 1, 2007 passed by the learned single "'
Judge in Special Civil Application No. 21828/2006?
G
3. We may briefly notice the relevant facts first. Garden
Silk Mills Ltd. - respondent (hereinafter referred to as,
"employer") have their mills at Vareli, Taluka Palsane, District
+ ..
Surat. The mills have many departments including Crimping
Department and Twisting Department which are located in the
H
ASHOK K. JHA & ORS. v. GARDEN SILK MILLS & 893
ANR. [R.M. LODHA, J.]

+ same campus. The appellants (hereinafter referred to as, A
"employees"), prior to May 3, 1996, were working as Crimping
Operators in the Crimping Department. Initially on May 3, 1996,
these employees were informed that they have been transferred
to Twisting Department and they must henceforth do their
duties in that department. The employees did not join their B
duties in the Twisting Department and, accordingly, the
employer issued written order on May 4, 1996 to these
\ employees individually intimating them that their services have
been transferred from Crimping Department to Twisting
Department. In the transfer order, it was clarified that there is c
no change in their service conditions; they will continue to
receive same pay scale and all other benefits which they have
been getting while working in the Crimping Department.

4. The employees sent request letter under Section 42 (4)
of the Bombay Industrial Relations Act, 1946 (for short, "BIR D
'*" Act") to the employer requesting them to withdraw the transfer
order dated May 4, 1996. The employees also requested the
-- employer to place them at original post in the Crimping
Department.
E
5. On May 9, 1996, the employer sent a reply to the
request letter and reiterated that by transfer from Crimping
Department to Twisting Department, there has been no change
... in their service conditions. The employer expressed its inability
to withdraw the transfer order. The employer also warned the F
employees if they did not resume their duty in the Twisting
Departing as Twister, an endorsement, "refused to work" W"Uld
be made in the muster roll.

6. The employees then approached the Labour Court by
making an application under Sections 77 and 78 of the BIR Act. G
4- According to the employees, they have been working as
operators in Crimping Department and they are not conversant
to run the twisting machines and by transferring them from
Crimping Department to Twisting Department, there is total
... change in the type of their work. They averred that by transferring H
894 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2009] 13 (ADDL.) S.C.R.

A them from Crimping Department to Twisting Department, the +
employer· has permanently decreased ·the strength of the
Crimping Department and consequential increase in the
Twisting Department. The employees alleged that their transfer
by the employer tantamounts to change in respect of matter
B specified in items nos. 1 and 2 of Schedule II of the BIR Act
and, therefore, notice of change under Section 42(1) was
required to be given and the prescribed procedure must have,
been necessarily followed. ~ ..
7. Yet another application challenging the orders of transfer
c was made by the Surat Silk Mills Labour Union, representative
union, before the Labour Court, Surat.

8. The employer contested both applications on diverse
grounds. Inter alia, it was stated that there is no change in
D respect of service conditions, pay scale, benefits, designation
~
and type of work as well as continuity of service by transfer of
these employees from Crimping Department to the Twisting
~
Department. The employer denied that their action of
transferring the employees was covered by item nos. 1 and 2
E of Schedule II but, according to them, their action is covered
under item 2 of Schedule Ill of the BIR Act.

9. It is not necessary to refer to the first round of litigation
as the matter was ultimately remanded to the Labour Court for ~
fresh consideration. Before the Labour Court, the parties led
F
documentary evidence but did not lead any oral evidence.
,....._
10. The 1st Labour Court, Surat disposed of both '•
applications by a 'common order dated September 6, 2001. In
its order, 1st Labour Court recorded a finding that the
G employees had failed fo prove that the employer had made
change in relation to item nos. 1 and 2 of Schedule II. This is
what the 1st Labour Court held: +
" ...... it has been held that the applicant has not been able
to prove that transfer of workmen has been resulting into
H
ASHOK K. JHA & ORS. v. GARDEN SILK MILLS & 895
ANR. [R.M. LODHA, J.]

+ strength in crimping department and increase in the A
str~ng~h of twisting department. In such circumstances,
appllcation has not been able to prove that opponent has
made 'change in relation to items of Schedule 2 namely
item no. 1 and 2. It has been held that opponent has not
made any type of illegal change whatsoever and, therefore, B
it is held that the applicant is not entitled to any of the
reliefs as prayed for in OT Application No. 22/96 and OT
,\ Application No. 26/96.

Further, it is also required to be noted that as regards
c
relief no. 2 and 3 in OT Application No. 26/96 sought by
the applicant, prayer made is that by ordering for workload
to run more than 25 machines and altering wages of the
applicants, there has been illegal change effected by the
opponent but no such fact has been established by the
r D
applicant which has been discussed in this matter in para
.....
11 earlier.

~ In all the aforesaid circumstances and for the
reasons in this matter as discussed as a whole, the
applicant has failed in establishing that the opponent has E
rtiade illegal change and, therefore, it is held that the
opponent has not made any type of illegal change ....... "

11. Aggrieved by the order of the 1st Labour Court dated
"' September 6, 2001, the employees and the union preferred a
joint appeal under Section 84 of BIR Act before the Industrial F
~ .court, Surat.

12. The Industrial Court did not agree with the findings of
the 1st Labour Court in its order dated March 9, 2006. It held:
G
"... In the present case, no evidence is produced on record
4 to show whether any strength of workmen with crimping
department or twisting department is decided or not; or no
agreement if any in this respect has been produced. The
appellants could have been able to produce corroborative
H
896 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2009] 13 (ADDL.) S.C.R.

A evidence in ~~ct of the number of permanent workmen
-t
by getting produced the muster roll maintained by the
opponent in respect of Crimping Department and Twisting
Departme,nt for the situation prevailing before 4.5.1996 and
thereafter. However, the appellants have not produced any
B oral as well as documentary evidence in respect of
number of permanent workmen working in the Crimping
Department or Twisting Department and, therefore, the
submission of the present appellants that there will be
decrease in number of workmen in Crimping Department
c and increase in the number of workmen in Twisting
Department, cannot be proved. The aforesaid finding which
is given by the Labour Court is contrary and false to the
· documentary evidence on record. As I have stated,
hereinabove, the workmen concerned with both the ,,_,
aforesaid applications have been transferred vide written ...,,
D
order from Crimping Department to Twisting Department.
j<.
There is no dispute between the parties in that respect. If
31 workmen of Crimping Department are to be transferred
to Twisting Department, then in one department there will "
be decease in number of workmen and increase in
E number of workmen in other department. In that respect,
there is no need to make counting as to how many total
workmen were there in Crimping or Twisting Department.
By way of aforesaid transfer, there is permanent decrease
in number of Crimping operators in the Crimping
F Department. It is said permanent because it is not the say
of the company that on transfer of these workmen from
Crimping Department, the workmen of other departments
will be appointed on these posts by way of transfer. If there
was a counter exchange of workmen of Crimping
G Department and Twisting Department, then the basic
defence taken by the management that we have done .
assignment of work and transfer of works within the
establishment i.e. to entrust work in the factory to workmen;
+
to transfer them; would have been proper and this would
H have fallen in item no. 2 of Schedule-Ill for which no notice
ASHOK K. JHA & ORS. v. GARDEN SILK MILLS & 897
ANR. [R.M. LODHA, J.]

+ under Section 42(1) is necessary. Thus, the finding given A
by the Labour Court that the act of management falls under
Item No. 2 of Schedule-Ill is false and erroneous. If the
management has said that our act is not included in Item
Nos. 1 and 2 of Schedule-II then it is the duty of the
Management to show before the Court as to the number s
of total workmen of the Twisting and Crimping Department.
Instead of this, it has been held that the burden is on the
appellants, is not proper...... .

In the case before the Labour Court, the Management has C
transferred 31 workmen from Crimping Department to
twisting Department. In that respect there is no dispute
between the parties. Even there is no defence of the
respondent that we have transferred 31 workmen from
Crimping Department to Twisting Department and from
Twisting Department to Crimping Department. If it was the D
case of only counter exchange, then the case of appellants
would not have fallen under Item Nos. 1 and 2 of Schedule
-II and the contention raised by the respondent i.e.
company, that the matter with respect to entrusting the work
to workmen and transferring them, falls under Item No. 2 ,E
of Schedule-Ill, could have been accepted. Thus, the
Labour Court has believed the authority cited by Shri
Chaudhari as correct one. But the Labour Court has held
that the appellant union has not been able to prove that
there is decrease in number of workmen Crimping F
Department. When there is no dispute between the parties
at the time of transfer of 31 workmen of one department
to another Department, there is no need for the Union to
prove the decrease in number of workmen. Thus, the
finding recorded by the Labour Court is in fact G
erroneous .... "

13. The Industrial Court, Surat set aside the order of the
1st Labour Court and directed the employer to withdraw the
orders of transfer dated May 4, 1996 and to entrust to the H
898 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2009] 13 (ADDL.) $.C.R.

A employees, work of the original post. +
14. The employer challenged the order of the Industrial
Court by filing a petition (Special Civil Application) under
Articles 226 and 227 of the Constitution before the High Court
of Gujarat. The learned Single Judge dismissed the petition on
B
October 1, 2007 holding thus:

" ... The Industrial Court has rightly considered the
difference between Schedule II and Ill item Nos. 1 and 2 +
of Schedule-II and Item No. 2 of Schedt1le-lll and find out
c the real intention of the employer and come to the-
conclusion that it is not merely a transfer of 31 employees
but, an intention of the employer to reduce the strength
from crimping department and increase the strength in
twisting department which fall within lfem Nos. 1and 2 of ~

,.
(,
D Schedule-II of the act which requires notice of change,
which is not given and, therefore, it amounts to illegal
change."
,.
15. Aggrieved by the order of the learned Single Judge,
the employer preferred Letters Patent Appeal under Clause 15
E
of the Letters Patent before the Division Bench. The Division
Bench, after hearing the parties found the appeal meritorious
and by its order dated May 14, 2008, allowed the appeal and
set aside the judgment and order of the learned Single Judge.
~.
The Division Bench also set aside the judgment and order
F passed by the Industrial Court, Surat and restored the judgment
and order dated September 6, 2001 passed by the Labour
Court, Surat.
;
._,,.._
Re: Question (1)
G
16. Clause (18) of Section 3 defines "Industrial matter'' to
mean "any matter relating to employment, work, wages, hours l
of work, privileges, rights or duties of employers or employees
or the more, terms and conditions of employment."

H 17. Section 42(1) which is relevant for consideration of this
ASHOK K. JHA & ORS. v. GARDEN SILK MILLS & 899
ANR. [R.M. LODHA, J.]

question reads thus:- A
"Section 42 - Notice of change

(1) Any employer intending to effect any change in respect
of an industrial matter specified in Schedule II shall give
notice of such intention in the prescribed form to the B
representative of employees. He shall send a copy of such
notice to the Chief Conciliator, the Conciliator for the
industry concerned for the local area, the Registrar, the
Labour Officer and such other person as may be
prescribed. He shall also affix copy of such notice at a C
conspicuous place on the premises where the employees
affected by the change are employed for work and at such
other place as may be directed by the Chief Conciliator in
any particulars case."
D
(2) ..... .

(3) ·····
(4) .... "
E
18. Section 46(4) provides that no employer shall make any
change in any industrial matter mentioned in Schedule II before
·giving notice of change as required by the provisions of sub·
section (1) of Section 42 and any change made in contravention
of the provisions of sub-Section (1), (2) of (3) shall be illegal.
F
19. Item 1 of Schedule II reads:" Reduction intended to be
·of permanent or semi-permanent character in the number of
persons employed or to be employed in any occupation or
process or department or departments or in a shift not due to
force majeure." G

20. Item 2 of Schedule II refers to: "Permanent or semi-
permanent increase in the number of persons employed or to
be employed in any occupation or process or department or
departments." H
900 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2009] 13 (ADDL.) S.C.R.

A 21. Item 2 of Schedule Ill reads: "Assignment of work and +
transfer of workers within the establishment."

22. A close look at the Item Nos. 1 and 2 of Schedule II
and Item 2 of Schedule Ill would show that insofar as assignment
of work and transfer of workers within the establishment is
B
concerned, the subject is precisely and ~pecifically covered by
Item 2 of Schedule Ill. The expression, 'assignment of work and
transfer of workers within the establishment' is plain and admits
-l
of no ambiguity. If the orders of transfer are of the description
mentioned in item 2 of Schedule Ill, item 2 of Schedule Ill must
c come into full play. Item nos. 1 and 2 of Schedule II operate
altogether in a different field. Basically, Items 1 and 2 of
Schedule II deal with reduction in the number of persons
employed or to be employed in any occupation or process or
,:..~

department or departments or in a shift or permanent or semi
D permanent increase in the number of persons employed or to -;.-
be employed in any occupation or process or department or
departments. A mere transfer of workers within the
establishment would not attract Item Nos. 1 and 2 of Schedule
II but would be covered by Item 2 of Schedule Ill as there is a
E specific item in this regard. A specific item would exclude the
items of general character and, in that view of the matter, in the
matters of transfer of workers within the establishment and
assignment of work by the employer, the specific Item 2 of
Schedule Ill is attracted. ¥
F
23. The orders of transfer dated May 4, 1996 apparently
make it clear that there is no change in the service conditions
of the workers viz. the workers continue to enjoy same pay
scales, rights and benefits flowing from service and the type of
work also remains the same. The only thing that has been done
G by the impugned orders of transfer is that these workers have
been asked to discharge their duties in the Twisting Department
instead of Crimping Department.

24. It is pertinent to notice that the employees did not
H produce any evidence to establish that there was difference in
ASHOK K. JHA & ORS. v. GARDEN SILK MILLS & 901
ANR. [R.M. LODHA, J.]

_..._ the work in the Crimping Department and the Twisting A
Department or that work of operator at the crimping and twisting
machines is different. No evidence has been led by the
employees about the fixed number of employees in the
Crimping Department. In the absence of any evidence by the
• workers about any fixed number of workers in the Crimping B
Department and Twisting Department, there is no foundation laid
for consideration of the question of reduction in the Crimping
Department and increase in number in the Twisting Department
by impugned orders of transfer. Obviously, the burden lay on the
workers to establish that the number of workers in each of these c
departments i.e. Crimping Department and Twisting
Department has been determined and that due to the action of
the employer, there has been decrease or increase in the
number of workers in these two departments.
'""'"' 25. We are not persuaded by the submission of the learned D
.... Counsel for the appellants that there is a basic difference in the
nature of machines in the .Crimping and Twisting Departments
and that workers are not trained to work at Twisting Machines.
If that were so, the workers ought to have led evidence in that
regard which they never did. E

26. The Division Bench of the High Court in this regard
considered the matter thus:

" ... We do appreciate that transfer of the employees from
one·department to another, in absence of corresponding F
transfer, would necessarily result into reduction in
manpower in one department and corresponding increase
in the manpower in the other department. But, we are
unable to agree that Item 1 of the Schedule II to the Act is
intended to cover the cases like the one before us. Had G
that been the legislative intent the "assignment of work and
-t the transfer of workers within the establishment" would not
have been included in Schedule Ill to the act. If the reasoning
of the Industrial court were accepted, the above referred
Item 2 in Schedule Ill to the Act would become nugatory. H
902 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2009] 13 (ADDL.) S.C.R.

A The cardinal principle of interpretation of statutes requires -{-
that the interpretation which would render a part of the
legislation nugatory or otiose should be avoided. What is
required is harmonization or conciliation amongst the two )--

B
seemingly contradictory or repugnant provisions in an
enactment. As the matter "assignment of work and transfer
of workers within the establishment" has been specifically
-
included in Schedule Ill to the Act, it cannot be artificially
brought under Item 1 of Schedule II by reference to the
presumable consequences of such transfer or assignment +
c of work."

27. We agree with the view of the High Court and for the
reasons already indicated above, we answer question (1) in the
negative.
t_,-

D Re.: Question {2}
)>-
28. In the Case of Umaji Kesha Meshram vs.
Radhikabai1, this Court had an occasion to consider the
question whether any appeal lies under Clause 15 of the Letters
Patent of the Bombay High Court before the Division Bench of
'E
two Judges of the High Court from the judgment and order of
Jhe learned single Judge of the High Court in petition filed under
Article 226 and 227 of the Constitution. The Court held:

"100. According to the Full Bench even were clause 15 to ...
F apply, an appeal would be barred by the express words
of clause 15 because the nature of the jurisdiction under
Articles 226 and 227 is the same inasmuch as it consists
of granting the same relief, namely, scrutiny of records and
control of subordinate courts and tribunals and, therefore,
G the exercise of jurisdiction under these articles would be
covered by the expression "revisional jurisdiction" and
"power of superintendence". We are afraid, the Full Bench
\
t-
has misunderstood the scope and effect of the powers

H 1. 1986 (Supp) sec 401.
ASHOK K. JHA & ORS. v. GARDEN SILK MILLS & 903
ANR. [R.M. LODHA, J.]

conferred by these articles. These two articles stand on an A
-entfrely different footing. As made abundantly clear in the
earJiet part of this judgment, their source and origin are
different and the models upon which they are patterned are
also different. Under Article 226 the High Courts have
power to issue directions, orders and writs to any person B
or authority including any Government. Under Article 227
every High Court has power of superintendence over all
courts and tribunals throughout the territory in relation to
which it exercises jurisdiction. The power to issue writs is
not the same as the power of superintendence. By no c
stretch of imagination can a writ in the nature of habeas
corpus or mandamus or quo warranto or prohibition or
certiorari be equated with the power of superintendence.
These are writs which are directed against persons,
authorities and the State. The power of superintendence
0
conferred upon every High Court by Article 227 is a
supervisory jurisdiction intended to ensure that subordinate
courts and tribunals act within the limits of their authority
and according to law (see State of Gujarat v. Vakhatsinghji
Vajesinghji Vaghela (AIR 1968 SC 1481) and
Ahmedabad Mfg. & Calico Ptg. Co. Ltd. v. Ram Tahel E
Ramnand [(1973) 1 SCR 185]. The orders, directions and
writs under Article 226 are not intended for this purpose
and the power of superintendence conferred upon the High
Courts by Article 227 is in addition to that conferred upon
the High Courts by Article 226. Though at the first blush it F
may seem that a writ of certiorari or a writ of prohibition
partakes of the nature of superintendence inasmuch as at
times the end result is the same, the nature of the power
to issue these writs is different from the supervisory or
superintending power under Article 227. The powers G
conferred by Articles 226 and 227 are separate and
distinct and operate in different fields. The fact that the
same result can at times be achieved by two different
processes does not mean that these two processes are
H
904 .· .SUPREME COURT REPORTS (2009] 13 (~DDL.) S.C.R.

~A the same.

101. Under Article 226 an order, direction or writ is to issue
to a person, authority or the State. In a proceeding under
that article the person, authority or State against whom the
direction, order or writ is sought is a necessary party.
B
Under Article 227, however, what comes up before the
High Court is the order or judgment of a subordinate court
or tribunal for the purpose of ascertaining whether in giving
such judgment or order that subordinate aourt or tribunal +
has acted within its authority and accordirng to law. Prior
c to the commencement of the Constitutioni the Chartered
High Courts as also the Judicial Committee had held that '
the power to issue prerogative writs possessed by the '
D
Chartered High Courts was an exercitse of original
jurisdiction (see Mahomedalli Allabux v. t'smailji Abdulali
....
!.-

'
(AIR 1926 Born 332), Raghunath Keshav Khadilkar v. -.,.
Poona Municipality, Ryots of Garabandho ~. Zemindar of
Parlakimedi (Al R 1942 PC 164) and Mou/vi Hamid
Hasan Nomani v. Banwarilal Roy (AIR 1947 PC 90). In
..
the last mentioned case which dealt with the nature of a
E writ of quo warranto, the Judicial Committee held:

"l.n Their Lordships' opinion any original Civil jurisdiction
possessed by the High Court and not in express terms t
'
conferred by the Letters Patent or later enactments falls -+-- )

F within the description of ordinary original civil jurisdiction." ;.
'
By Article 226 the power of issuing prerogative writs
possessed by the Chartered High Courts prior to the
commencement of the Constitution has been made wider
and more extensive and conferred upon every High Court.
G The nature of the exercise of the power under Article 226,
however, remains the same as in the case of the power of
~
issuing prerogative writs possessed by the Chartered High
Courts. A series of decisions of this Court has firmly
established that a proceeding under Article 226 is- an
H
ASHOK K. JHA & ORS. v. GARDEN SILK MILLS & 905
ANR. [R.M. LODHA, J.]

~-
original proceeding and when it concerns civil rights, it is A
an original civil proceeding (see, for instance, State of U.P.
v. Vijay Anand Maharaj (AIR 1963 SC 946), CIT v.
/shwarlal Bhagwandas (AIR 1965 SC 1818), Ramesh v.
Seth Gendalal Motilal Patni (AIR 1966 SC 1445), Arbind
Kumar Singh v. Nand Kishore Prasad (AIR 1968 SC B
1227) and Ahmedabad Mfg. & Calico Ptg. Co. Ltd. v.
Ram Tahel Ramnand (AIR 1972 SC 1598).
-\ 102. Consequently, where a petition filed under Article 226
of the Constitution is according to the Rules of a particular
High Court heard by a Single Judge, an intra-court appeal
c
will lie from that judgment if such a right of appeal is
provided in the Charter of that High Court, whether such
Charter be Letters Patent or a statute. Clause 15 of the
. _.. Letters Patent of the Bombay High Court gives in such a
case a right of intra-court appeal and, therefore, the D
-J(
decision of a Single Judge of that High Court given in a
petition under Article 226 would be appealable to a
Division Bench of that High Court.

107. Petitions are at times filed both under Articles 226 E
and 227 of the Constitution. The case of Hari Vishnu
Karnath v. Syed Ahmad lshaque (AIR 1955 SC 233)
before this Court was of such a type. Rule 18 provides that
where such petitions are filed against orders of the
+
Tribunals or authorities specified in Rule 18 of Chapter XVII F
\.
of the Appellate Side Rules or against decrees or orders
of courts specified in that rule, they shall be heard and
finally disposed of by a Single Judge. The question is
whether an appeal would lie from the decision of the Single
Judge in such a case. In our opinion, where the facts justify
G
a party in filing an application either under Article 226 or
-; 227 of the Constitution, and the party chooses to file his
application under both these articles, in fairness and justice
to such party and in order not to deprive him of the valuable
right of appeal the court ought to treat the application as
H
906 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2009] 13 (ADDL.) S.C.R.

A being made under Article 226, and if in deciding the
matter, in the final order the court gives ancillary directions -+
which may pertain to Article 227, this ought not to be held
to deprive a party.of the right of appeal under clause_ 15
of the Letters Patent where the substantial part of the order
B sought to be appealed against is under Article 226. Such
was the view taken by the Allahabad High Court in Aida/
Singh v. Karan Singh (AIR 1957 ALL 414) and by the
Punjab High Court in Raj Kishan Jain v. Tulsi Dass (AIR
1959 Punj 291) and Barham Dutt v. Peoples' ;.
c Cooperative Transport Soc[ety Ltd., New Delhi (AIR 19.61
Punj 24) and we are in agreement with it."

29. In the case of Ratnagiri District Central Co-operative
Bank Ltd. v. Dinkar Kashinath Wative2, this Court held that for
determining the question of maintainability of an appeal against
0 the Judgement of the single Judge in a writ petition where both --~
Articles 226 and 227 of the Constitution have been mentioned, >-
the Division Bench has to find out whether in substance the
judgment has been passed by the learned single Judge in
exercise of the jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Constitution.
E The Court held thus:

"2. The only question involved in this matter is as to t-
whether the High Court was right in holding that a Letters
Patent Appeal will not lie against the judgment delivered
F by a learned Single Judge in a petition which was filed +
I
under both the Articles 226 and 227 of the Constitution. 1

Having gone through the judgment of the learned Single
Judge and the Division Bench and having heard learned
counsel for the parties, in our opinion, the question about l'
.;..
the scope of Letters Patent Appeal under clause 15 has
G )
been clearly laid down by this Court in a judgment reported
)
in Umaji Keshao Meshram v. Radhikabai wherein it was
observed as follows at pages 837-38: (SCC p. 473, para + ~
I

107)

H 2. 1993 (Suppl.) 1 sec 9.
ASHOK K. JHA & ORS. v. GARDEN SILK MILLS & 907
ANR. [R.M. LODHA, J.]

"Petitions are at times filed both under Articles 226 A
and 227 of the Constitutioni The case of Hari Vishnu
Karnath v. Syed Ahmad lsf(laque (AIR 1955 SC 233)
before this Court was of such a type. Rule 18 provides that
where such petitions are filed against orders of the
tribunals or authorities specified in Rule 18 of Chapter XVII B
of the Appellate Side Rules or against decrees or orders
of courts specified in that rule, they shall be heard and
finally disposed-of by a Single Judge. The question is
whether an appeal would fie from the decision of the
Single Judge in such a case. In our opinion, where the c
facts justify a party in filing an application either under
Article 226 or 227 of the Constitution and the party
chooses to file his application under both these articles,
_... in fairness and justice to such party and in order not to
deprive him of the valuable right of appeal the court ought
D
~ to treat the application 2s being made un'der Article 226,
and if in deciding the ma'ter, in the final order the court
.... gives ancillary directions vvl1ich may pertain to Article 227,
this ought not to be held to deprive a party of the right of
appeal under clause 15 of the Letters Patent where the
substantial part of the order sought to be appealed against E
is under Article 226. Such was the view taken by the
Allahabad High Court in Aida/ Singh v. Karan Singh (AIR
.... 195.7 All 414)and by the Punjab High Court in Raj Kishan
Jain v. Tulsi Dass (AIR 1959 Punj 291) and Barham Dutt
v. Peoples' Co-operative Transport Society Ltd., New F
Delh (AIR 1961 Punj 24) and we are in agreement with
it."

3. It is clear that so far as the present case was concerned
the relief granted by the learned Single Judge clearly G
indicate that he was exercising jurisdiction under Article
226 and not under Article 227 of the Constitution and in
this view of the matter and in the light of what has been
laid down by this Hon'ble Court in the judgm~flt referred
to above a Letters Patent Appeal under clause 15 would H
908 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2009] 13 (ADDL.) S.C.R.

A be maintainable before the Division Bench of the High +
Court. The appeal is, therefore, allowed and the judgment
passed by the learned Division Bench is set aside. The
matter is sent back to the High Court and it is expected
that the Division Bench will h.ear the appeal on merits and
s dispose it of in accordance with law expeditiously
preferably within four months from today."

30. In Sushilabai Laxminarayan Mudliyar and others vs. J.
3
Nihalchand Waghajibhai Shah and Others , the Court held:
c "4. The Full Bench of the Bombay High Court wrongly
understood the above Umaji Kesho Meshram case. In
Umaji case it was t:learly held that where the facts justify
a party in filing an application either under Article 226 or
227 of the Constitution of India and the party chooses to
D file his application under both these articles in fairness of
justice to party and in order not to deprive him of valuable )'.
right of appeal the Court ought to treat the application as
being made under Article 226, and if in deciding the
matter, in the final order the Court gives ancillary directions
E which may pertain to Article 227, this ought not to be 1-!eld
to deprive a party of the right of appeal under clause 15
of the Letters Patent where the substantial part of the order
sought to be appealed against is under Article 226. Rule
18 of the Bombay High Court Appellate Side Rules read -;..
F with clause 15 of the Letters Patent provides for appeal
.,
'(

to the Division Bench of the High Court from a judgment
of the learned Single Judge passed on a writ petition
under Article 226 of the Constitution. In the present case
the Division Bench was clearly wrong in holding that the
appeal was not maintainable against the order of the
G
learned Single Judge. In these circumstances we set
aside the impugned order of the Division Bench and direct -~
that the Letters Patent Appeal filed against the judgment
of the learned Single Judge would now be heard and

H 3. 1993 Suppl. (1) sec 11.
ASHOK K. JHA & ORS. v. GARDEN SILK MILLS & 909
ANR. [R.M. LODHA, J.]

decided on merits." A
31. The issue concerning maintainability of Letters Patent
Appeal from an order of single Judge in the writ petition filed
under Articles 226 and 227 of the Constitution of India, again
came up for consideration before this Court in the case of B
Kishori Lal vs. Sales Officer, District Land Development Bank
and Ors. 4 This Court held:

"13. The learned Single Judge of the High Court, in our
opinion, committed an error in interfering with the findings
of fact arrived at by the Board of Revenue. The Division C
Bench of the High Court also wrongly dismissed the LPA
without noticing that an appeal would be maintainable if
the writ petition was filed under Articles 226 and 227 of
the Constitution of India as was held by this Court in
Sushilabai Laxminarayan Mud/iyar v. Nihalchand D
Waghajibhai Shaha (1993 Suppl. (1) SCC 11)."

32. The discussion on the subject would be incomplete
without reference to two recent decisions of this Court viz., (i)
State of Madhya Pradesh and Ors. vs. Visan Kumar Shiv E
Charan La/5, and (ii) Ramesh Chandra Sank/a vs. Vikram
Cement6. In the case of Visan Kumar Shiv Charan Lal, this
Court referred to earlier decisions in the case of Umaji 1,
Sushilabai Laxminarayan3 and Ratnagiri District Co-operative
-+-· Bank Ltd.2, and held:
F
"8 ....... "Even when in the cause title of an application both
Article 226 and Article 227 of the Constitution have been
mentioned, the learned single Judge is at liberty to decide,
according to facts of each particular case, whether the said
application ought to be dealt with only under Article 226 · G
of the Constitution. For determining the question of
i maintainability of an appeal against such a judgment of the
4. 2006 (7} 1 sec 496.
5. AIR 2009 SC 1999.
6. AIR 2009 SC 713. H
910 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [20.09) 13 (ADDL.) S.C.R.

A Single Judge the Division bench has to find out whether
in substance the judgment has been passed by the learned
Single Judge in exercise of the jurisdiction under Article
226 of the Constitution. In the event in passing his judgment
on an application which had mentioned in its cause title
B both Articles 226 and 227, the Single Judge has in fact
invoked only his supervisory powers under Article 227, the
appeal under clause 15 would not lie. The clause 15 of the
Letters Patent expressly b~rs appeals against orders of
Single Judges passed under revisional or supervisory
c ·powers. Even when the learned Single Judge's order has
been passed under both the articles, for deciding. the
maintainability against such an order what would be
relevant is the principal or main relief granted by the
judgment passed by learned Single Judge and not the
ancillary directions given by him. The expression 'ancillary' ...
D
means, in the context, incidental or consequential to the
~
main part of the order. n

33. In Visan Kumar Shiv Charan Lal, this Court further
held that the determining factor is the real nature of principal
E order passed by the Single Judge which is appealed against
and neither mentioning in the cause title of the application of
both the Articles nor granting of ancillary order thereupon by the
Single Judge would be relevant and in each case the Division
Bench must consider the substance of the Judgment under
F appeal to ascertain whether the Single Judge has mainly or
principally exercised his jurisdiction under Article 226 or Article
227 of the Constitution.

34. In Ramesh Chandra Sank/a, this Court held:
G "32. In our judgment, the learned Counsel for the appellant
is right in submitting that nomenclature of the proceeding
or reference to a particular Article of the Constitution is not r
final or conclusive. He is also right in submitting that an
observation by a Single Judge as to how he had dealt with
H the matter is also not decisive. If it were so, a petition strictly
ASHOK K. JHA & ORS. v. GARDEN SILK MILLS & 911
ANR. [R.M. LODHA, J.]
+ fairing under Article 226 simpliciter can be disposed of by A
~ Single Judge observing that he is exercising power of
sllp"erintendence under Article 227of the Constitution. Can
such sta.tement by a Single Judge take away from the
party aggrieved a right of appeal against the judgment if
otherwise the petition is under Article 226 of the B
Constitution and subject to an intra court/Letters Patent
Appeal? The reply unquestionably is in the negative."
~
35. If the judgment under appeal falls squarely within four
corners of Article 227, it goes without saying that intra court
appeal from such judgment would not be maintainable . On the
c
other hand, if the petitioner has invoked the jurisdiction of the
High Court for issuance· of certain writ under Article 226,
... although Article 227 is also mentioned, and principally the
judgment appealed against falls under Article 226, the appeal
~ would be maintainable. What is important to be ascertained is D
the true nature of order passed by the Single Judge and not
what provision he mentions while exercising such powers. We
agree with the view of this Court in Ramesh Chandra Sankla
that a statement by learned Single Judge that he has exercised
power under Article 227, cannot take away right of appeal E
against such judgment if power is otherwise found to have been
exercised under Article 226. The vital factor for determination
of maintainability of intra court appeal is the nature of
....
jurisdiction invoked by the party and the true nature of principal
order passed by the Single Judge. F

36. Insofar as the present case is concerned, in the cause
title of the writ petition (Special Civil Application), Articles 226
and 227 of the Constitution have been mentioned. A careful
reading of the writ petition shows that writ petition is not
G
confined to supervisory jurisdiction of the High Court. The
-t employer has invoked jurisdiction of the High Court by praying
for a writ of certiorari. The prayer clause in the writ petition
reads, "In view of the aforesaid premises your Lordships may
be pleased to issue a writ of certiorari or any other appropriate
H
912 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2009) 13 (ADDL.) S.C.R.

A order...... " . The judgment of the Single Judge is, thus, traceable +
to Article 226. The statement made by the Single Judge in his
order that no case for interference is made out under Article
227 of the Constitution is not decisive. Moreover, the Division
Bench in its order observed, "though long drawn arguments
B were advanced on the question of maintainability of this Appeal,
there rally was not a serious contest on the question of
maintainability of the Appeal." For all these reasons, we hold
that Letters Patent Appeal was maintainable from the order
dated October 1, 2007 passed by the learned Single Judge.
c We answer question (2) in affirmative.
37. By way of foot·note, we may observe that during the
course of hearing of the appeal, we were informed by the
Senior Counsel for the employer that dispute has been resolved
amicably with twelve employees. We gave an opportunity to the
D remaining employees to settle the dispute with the employer as
.
~
has been done by twelve employees, and although employer
expressed their willingness, but th~ remaining employees found
the offer of the employer unacceptable.

E 38. In the result, appeal fails and is dismissed with no order
as to costs.

B.B.B. Appeal dismissed.