Supreme Court of India
KRISHAN PRASAD GUPTAversusCONTROLLER, PRINTING AND STATIONERY
- Citation
- 1995 INSC 633
- Decided
- 18 October 1995
- Disposal
- Appeal(s) allowed
Holding
Appeals under Section 17 of the Payment of Wages Act cannot be transferred to the Administrative Tribunal; the appellate jurisdiction remains with the District Judge.
Summary
Krishan Prasad Gupta, an employee, filed a claim under Section 15 of the Payment of Wages Act seeking recovery of unauthorized wage deductions. The Authority passed an ex‑parte order and the respondent appealed under Section 17 before the District Judge. While the appeal was pending, the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) was constituted and, invoking Section 29 of the Administrative Tribunals Act, the appeal was transferred to the Tribunal, which dismissed it. A separate application under Section 15 was allowed, and the respondent’s appeal on that order was also transferred to the Tribunal, which set aside the order. The Supreme Court was asked whether appeals under Section 17 could be transferred to the Tribunal. The Court held that because the original cause of action under Section 15 could not be made to the Tribunal, the appellate jurisdiction under Section 17 is a protected, “corresponding law” jurisdiction saved by the saving clause in Section 14/28 and therefore cannot be transferred. The Tribunal’s order was set aside and the appeal was directed back to the District Judge for disposal. The appeal was allowed.
Issues considered
- Whether Section 29 of the Administrative Tribunals Act mandates transfer of appeals pending before a District Judge under Section 17 of the Payment of Wages Act to the Administrative Tribunal.
- Whether the appellate jurisdiction under Section 17 of the Payment of Wages Act is excluded from transfer by the saving clause in Section 14 and the exception in Section 28 of the Administrative Tribunals Act.
- Whether the Payment of Wages Act qualifies as a ‘corresponding law’ under Section 28, thereby preserving its own appellate authority.
- Interpretation of ‘cause of action’ and the scope of the ‘saving clause’ in the context of service‑law appeals.
Legislation cited
- Administrative Tribunals Act, 1985s. 14, s. 19, s. 28, s. 29, s. 29A
- Industrial Disputes Act, 1947s. 2(n), s. 33C(1), s. 33C(2)
- Payment of Wages Act, 1936s. 15, s. 17, s. 2(vi)
Subjects
Administrative TribunalPayment of Wages Actjurisdictiontransfer of appealsaving clausecorresponding lawservice lawSection 29Section 17ex‑parte order
Judgment
•
A KRISHAN PRASAD GUPTA
v.
CONTROLLER, PRINTING AND STATIONERY
OCTOBER 18, 1995
B [KULDIP SINGH AND S. SAGHIR AHMAD, JJ.J
Administrative Tribunals Act, 1985-Ss.14, 19, 28, 29, 29A, Paymellt of
Wages Act, 193(r-Ss. 2 (vi), 15, 17; lndustiial Disputes Act-Ss. 2 (n·j, 33C( 1)
& (2).
c Jwisdiction of Tiibzmal--Transfer of pe11ding case under payment of
Wages Act~o jurisdiction to ellteitain-Jwisdiction of auth01ity to enter-
tain/decide claim cases under Payment of Wages Act is special and protected
and not affected by constinttion of Tribunal--Appeals are colltinuation of
01iginal proceedings. Paymellt of Wages Act and Industrial Disputes Act are
D 'Con-esponding Law '.
lnte1pretation of Stanttes--Ouster vf jurisdicti01t-Most suitable rule to
be applie{}-Rule of constmction of giving ordinary meanings to vaiious
expressions used in the Legislation-To constnte the va1ious sections of the
E enactment as a whole, each provision throwing light on the rest.
Appellant an employee of the respondent, tiled case u/s 15 of pay'.
men! of Wages Act, alleging that the respondent had over a period of time
deducted monies illegally and unauthorisedly totaling Rs. 48,274.SOp. An
ex-paite order was passed since the respondent failed to appear. Later, the
F respondent tiled an application for setting aside the said ex-pane order.
This was rejected whereupon an appeal u/s 17 (l), of Payment of Wages
Act was tiled before the District Judge. During the pendency of the Appeal
the Tribunal was constituted and the pending appeal was transferred to
the Tribunal which dismissed the appeal. In the meantime, the appellant's
G application was allowed by order dated 20-7-88 for payment of
Rs.43,092.SOp against which the respondent tiled an appeal u/s 17 of
payment of Wages Act before the District Judge and it stood Transferred
to the Tribunal and was allowed by the Tribunal.
In this appeal it was contended that the appeal pending before the
H District Judge u/s 17 of the payment of Wages Act could not be legally
436
KP. GUPTA v. CONTROLLER PRTG. AND STATIONERY 437
transferred to the Tribunal u/s 29 of the Administrative Tribunals Act and A
the Tribunal had no jurisdiction to entertain the case. The respondents
submitted that since clause (b) of S.2 has been deleted by Act No. 19 of
1986, and the Administrative Tribunals Act has been made applicaLle to
all persons working in factories/industrial establishments, and jurisdic-
tion of all Courts is now vested in the Tribunal, Appeal u/s 17 of the
B
Payment of Wages Act will also be before the Tribunal
Allowing the appea~ this Court
HELD : 1.1 Since on the original cause of action, a claim u/s 15 of
the payment of Wages Act could not have been made to the Tribunal, the C
appeal would not stand transferred to nor can appeal contemplated u/s 17
of the payment of Wages Act be filed before it. The Appellate Authority is
part of the justice delivery system constituted u/s 17 of the payment of
Wages Act. Its jurisdiction will not be affected by the establishment of
Administrative Tribunals particularly as appeal has always been treated
to be a continuation of the original proceedings. Consequently, the two tier D
judicial system, original as well as appellate, constituted under the 'cor-
responding law' like the payment of Wages Act, are not affected by the
Constitution of the Tribunals and the system shall continue to function as
before, with the result that if any case is decided u/s 15 of the payment of
Wages Act, it will not be obligatory to file an appeal before the Tribunal E
as required U/S 29A of the Act but the appeal shall lie u/s 17 of the payment
of Wages Act before the District Judge. The pending appeals also therefore,
not stand transferred to the Tribunal u/s 29 of the Act. The matter involved
here relates to the exercise of special jurisdiction by the District Judge
under the payment of Wages Act which is protected jurisdiction. [457-C-F]
F
1.2. Though the Tribunal has been constituted as a substitute for the
High Court under Article 323A, the Labour Courts and Indus trialTribunals
etc, over which the High Court exercises jurisdiction continue to function
with the incongruous result that though the High Court cannot quash their
judgments, it must continue to supervise their functioning. [458-D]
G
2.1. Since the matter involved in this case relates to the ouster of
jurisdiction of all regular Courts, including the High Court, a rule of
interpretation which is most appropriately applicable to the circumstances
and the only Rule which can be most suitably applied is the rule of
construction of giving ordinary meaning to the various expressions used H
438 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (1995] SUPP. 4 S.C.R.
A in the legislation and to construe various sections of the enactment as a
whole, each provision throwing light if need be, on the rest. [445-H, 446-A)
Tahsildar Singh v. State of U.P., AIR (1959) SC 1012; Madan Lal Fakir
Chand Dudhediya v. Changdeo Sugar Mills Ltd., AIR (1962) SC 1543 and
Jennings v. Kelly, (1939) 4 ALL ER, 464 (HL), referred to.
B
2.2. S.14 of the Administrative Tribunal Act, begins with the words
'save as otherwise expressly provided in this Act' which constitntes an
extremely signilicant expression as they pnrport to constitnte a 'saving
clanse'. This expression has also been used in the opening part of S.14 (3).
C What is intended to be saved is indicated in S 28 which, Incidentally, also
purports to exclude the jnrisdiction of almost all the Courts in service
matters. Ss. 14 & 28 have, therefore, to be read together to lind out the
real intent of the legislature as to the extent of jurisdiction retained or
excluded. [458-B)
D 2.3. While S.19 operates 'subject to other provisions of the Act, the.
lield of operation of S. 14 is limited by the use of the words 'save as
otherwise expressly provided in this Act'. These words control and regulate
the wh~le of the section not only in respect of 'jurisdiction' but also the
matters specilied therein. This constitutes the original jurisdiction of the
E Tribunal. [447-B)
2.4. The Appellate jurisdiction of the Tribunal is indicated in Ss. 29
and 29A of the Act. The Appellate jurisdiction of the Tribunal is extremely
limited and was conferred on the Tribunal so that the judgment, if any
passed by a munsif or civil or subordinated judge in ·a civil suit relating to
F a service matter (decided before the establishment of the Tribunal) may be
challenged before the Tribunal notwithstanding that the judgment passed
in that suit is not covered by the word 'order' delined in the explanation
appended to S 14 (i). Except the appeals, which are transferred to the
Tribunal or the appeals which may be liled before the Tribunal in the above
G circumstances, no other appeal would lie before the Tribunal. [447-C, E)
2.5. The 'saving clause' or the 'saving phrase' (not in the sense of
'repeals and savings) divides 'jurisdiction' into two closes, viz, 'jurisdiction'
which is transferred to and vested in the Tribunal and 'jurisdiction' which
is not so transferred and is, on the contrary, saved. When 'jurisdiction' thus
H became exercisable by the Tribunal, it was provided by S. 28 that no court
KP. GUPTA v. CONTROLLER PRTG. AND STATIONERY 439
shall exercise the jurisdiction, powers and authority on and fron1 which A
such jurisdiction, ]10\\'ers and authority becomes exercisable by a Tribunal.
It is, therefore, apparent that inspite of S. 14 of the Act, the jurisdiction of
the Industrial Tribunal, Labour Courts or other Authorities, under In-
dustrial Disputes Act or Authority created under ;Iny other corresponding
law remains unallected. [447-G, 448-B]
B
3. The jurisdiction which is transferred to and vested in the Tribunal
is the jurisdiction of all the Courts except the Supreme Court which is
expressly excluded. The vires of the Act has already been upheld. [446-G]
S.P. Sampath Kumar v. Union of ll!dia & Ors., AIR (1987) SC 386, C
relied on.
4. Claim for wages can be entertained not only under the payment
of Wages Act but also u/s 33 C (2) of the Industrial Disputes Act. Thus
the character and function of the Labour Court under the Industrial
Disputes Act as also the Authority under the Payment of Wages Act are D
similar in purpose and both are designed to produce the same result
particularly as some of the provisions under both the Act prescribe the
same thing to be done. [455-E]
Town Municipal Council, Athani v. Labour Court, (1969) 2 Labour E
Law Journal 651, referred to.
4.2. The Industrial Disputes Act and the Payment of Wages Act are
therefore 'corresponding law' qua each other particularly as both are part
of the sa1ne social legislative canopy n.... Je by Parliament for immediate
an1elioration of work1nen's plight resulting from non-payment, or delayed F
payment or, for that matter, short payment of wages. [455-G]
Winter v. Minist1y of Transport, 1972 (NZLR) 539, referred to.
- 4.3. The 'Authority', constituted u/s 15 and the Appellate Authority
u/s 17 of the Payment of Wages Act, fall within the exception indicated in
S 28 of the Administrative Tribunals Act and this Act, viz, is positively
covered by the connotation 'corresponding law' used in that section. Con-
G
sequently, the jurisdiction of the authority to entertain and decide claim
cases u/s 15 of the Payment of Wages Act is not affected by the estab-
lishment of the Administrative Tribunals. [456-C-D] H
.. ,,;..,,
440 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (1995[ SUPP. 4 S.C.R.
A 5. While deleting clause (b) from S. 2 so as to make the Act ap-
plicable to workmen etc, the Parliament by the same Amending Act, viz,
Act No 19 of 1986, introduced clauses (a) & (b) so as to preserve the
jurisdiction of the Supreme Court, the Labour Court, Industrial Tribunals
and the Authorities UOfjer the Payment of Wages Act which is 'cor-
responding law' within the meaning of clause (b) of S 28. [456-B]
B
6. The judgment and order dated 4-7-94 by the Administrative
Tribunal Chandigarh, is set aside and it is directed that the Appeal papers
be transmitted forthwith to the District Judge, Chandigarh, for disposal
on merits. [458-E)
c CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION : Civil Appeal No.1980 of
1995.
From the Judgment and Order dated 4.7.94 of the Central Ad-
ministrative Tribunal Chandigarh in T.A. No. 26/CH/89.
D
Amar Vivck and Prem Malhotra for the Appellant.
K. Madhava Reddy, Ms. Kamini Jaiswal and Ms. Priya Saxena for
the Respondent
The Judgment of the Court was delivered by
E
S.SAGHIR AHMAD, J. Fate of this appeal hinges on the answer
which we ultimately give to the short question "whether the appeals pend-
ing in the Court of the District Judge under section 17 of the payment of
Wages Act, were liable to be transferred to the Administrative Tribunals
under section 29 of the Administrative Tribunals Act, J985 for disposal on
F
merits or the jurisdiction of the Authority under section 15 and that of the
District Judge under section 17 of the payment of Wages Act to hear and
decide Claim Cases and Appeals, respectively remain undisturbed."
The appellant was an employee of the respondent. On November 23,
G 1987 he filed an application under section 15 of the payment of Wages Act
for recovery of an amount of Rs.48,274.50 p. on the allegations, inter-a/ia, •
that the respondent had illegally withheld and had also made unauthorised
deductions from his wages progressively over a considerable period of time.
This application was registered as Case No.407 of 1987 notice whereof was
issued to the respondent, who after putting in appearance, absented on a
H number of dates and ultimately the Authority passed an order that the case
KP.GUPTA'· CONTROLLERPRTG.ANDSTATIONERY(S.SAGHIRAHMAD.J.( 441
would proceed ex-parte against him. The respondent filed an application A
for selling aside that order hut the application was re_jecled by order dated
June 23,1988 against which the respondent filed an appeal under section
17 (1) of the Payment of Wages Act on .July 15, 1988 before the District
Judge during the pendency of which the Tribunal was constituted and
consequently, in view of the provisions contained in sect ion 29 of the Act,
the appeal was transferred to the Tribunal and the Tribunal, by its order B
dated August 31,1990, rejected the appeal.
In the meantime, appellant's main application under section 15 of the
payment of Wages Act was allowed by order dated July 20,1988 for a sum
of Rs. 43,092.50 p. against which the respondent filed an appeal under
section 17 (1) of the payment of Wages Act in the Court of the District C
Judge, Chandigarh, which was also transferred to the Tribunal and the
Tribunal by its judgment and order dated July 4,1994 allowed the appeal
and set aside the order dated 20th July, 1988, passed by the Authority
under the payment of Wages Act. It is this order which is challenged before
us on the grounds, inter alia, that the appeal pending in the Court of the D
District Judge under section 17 of the payment of Wages Act could not
have been legally transferred to the Tribunal under section 29 of the Act
and the Tribunal, therefore, had no jurisdiction to dispose it of on merits.
Administrative Tribunals have been constituted under the Act made
by the Parliament under Article 323 A of the Constitution for providing an E
exclusive machinery for the adjudication or trial of disputes and complaints
with respect to recruitments, as also conditions of service of persons
appointed to public services and posts, so as to cut down the time spent
by public servants in litigation in ordinary courts and to provide them relief
at the hands of persons hearing and deciding service litigation exclusively.
F
The vires of the Act has already been upheld by this Court in
S.P.Sampath v. Union of India & Ors., AIR 1987 SC 386 with the finding
that with effect from the date on which the Tribunals were constituted, the
jurisdiction of the High Court in entertaining the Writ Petitions in service
matters came to an end. Whether the above view is correct or not and
whether the abrogation of the High Courts' jurisdiction in entertaining G
writs in service matters under Act. 226 of the Constitution amounts to a
destruction of the basic character of the Constitution are questions which
have since been referred to the Constitution Bench whose answer is still
awaited.
In S.P. Sampath's case (supra), it was held that Tribunal was a H
442 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1995] SUPP. 4 S.C.R.
A substitute for the High Court. In order to confer exclusive jurisdiction in
service matters on the Tribunal, il has been provided in section 14 of the
Act that the Tribunal shall exercise, on and from the appointed day
(l.11.85) all the jurisdiction, powers and authority exercisable immediately
hcfore that <lay by all Courts except the Supreme Court in respect of cases
pertaining lo recruitment and n1attcrs concerning recruitn1ent to All lndia
B Services as also disputes relating to "service matters", (defined in section
3(q)).
Sections 19 to 21 of the Act , read together, indicate that the
jurisdiction of the Tribunal can be invoked by a "person aggrieved" by
making an application against an 11 order'! n1ade by the Government or a
c local or other authority etc. subject lo the condition that all other remedies,
if available, under the service rules have been availed of by him and that
loo within the period of limitation indicated in section 21 in which the
starting point of limitation as also the period which would commence from
that point have been specified.
D
Section 14 which confers, or, we may be permitted to say, transfers
jurisdiction of all the regular Courts including High Courts all over the
country lo the Tribunal in respect of "service matters", provides, in its
relevant part, as under :-
E "14. Jwisdiction, powe1~ u11d ulllho1ity of the Central Administrative
T1ibu11af-(l) Save as otherwise expressly provided in this Act, the
Central Administrative Tribunal shall exercise, on and from the
appointed day, all the .iurisdiction, powers and authority exer-
cisable immediately before that day by all courts (except the
supreme Court) in relation to -
F
(a) recruitment, and matters concerning recruitment 1 to any
all India Service or to any civil service of the Union or a civil
post under the Union or to a posl connected with defence or
in the defence services, being, in either case, a post fiJled by
G a civilian ;
(b) all service matters concerning -
(i) a member of any All-India Service ; or
H (ii) a person [nol being a member of an All India Service
K.P.GUPTA .-. CONTROLLERPRTG.ANDSTATLQNERY[S. SAGHIRAHMAD.J.I 443
or a person referred to in clause (c)\ appointed to any A
civil service of the Union or any civil post under the
Union; or
(iii) a civilian [not being a member of an All India Service -
or a person referred to in clat"c (c)I appointed to any
defence services or a post connected \vith defence, B
and pertaining to the service of such mc1nbcr, person or civilian,
in connection with the affairs of the Union or of any state or of
any local or other authority within the territory of lndia or under
the control of the Government of lndia or of any corporation [or
society] owned or controlled by the Government ;
c
(c) ........................................"
- Section 29 provides for the transfer of all pending cases to the
Tribunal while section 29 A provides for the filing of appeals in such cases
as were decided either before or after the establishment of Tribunals on
D
1.11.85 before the Tribunal instead of the regular appellate forum.
Sections 29 and 29A are reproduced below:
"29. Tru11sjer of pe11di11g cuses-(l) Every suit or other proceeding
pending before any court or other authority immediately before E
the date of establishment of a Tribunal under this Act', being a
suit or proceeding the cause of action whereon it is based is such
that it would have been, if it had arisen after such establishment,
within the jurisdiction of such Tribunal, shall stand transferred on
that dale to such Tribunal : F
Provided that nothing in this sub-section shall apply to any
appeal pending as aforesaid before a High Court.
(2) Every suit or other proceeding pending before a Court or
other authority immediately before the date with effect from which G
jurisdiction is conferred on a Tribunal in relation to any local or
other authority or corporation Ior society], being a suit or proceed~
ing the cause of action \Vhereon it is based is such that it would
have been, if it had arisen after the said date, within the jurisdiction
of such Tribunal, shall stand transferred on that date to such
Tribunal: H
444 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (1995] SUPP. 4 S.C.R.
A Provided that nothing in this sub-section shall apply to any
appeal pending as aforesaid before a High Court.
(3) Where immediately before the date of establishment of a Joint
Administrative Tribunal any one or more of the .States for which
it is established, has or have a State Tribunal or State Tribunals,
B all cases pending before such State Tribunal or State Tribunals
immediately before the said date together with the records thereof
shall stand transferred on that date to such Joint Administrative
Tribunal.
( 4) Where any suit, appeal or other proceeding stands transferred
c from any Court or other authority to a Tribunal under sub-section
(1) or sub-section (2),-
(a) the Court or other authority shall, as soon as may be'.
after such transfer, forward the records of such suit, appeal
D or other proceeding to the Tribunal ; and
(b) the Tribunal may, on receipt of such records, proceed
to deal with such suit, appeal or other proceeding, so far as
may be, in the same manner as in the case of an application
under section 19 from the stage which was reached before
E such transfer or from any earlier stage or de novo as the
Tribunal may deem fit.
(5) Where any case stands transferred to a Joint Administrative
Tribunal under sub-section (3), the Joint Administrative Tribunal
may proceed to deal with such case from the stage which was
F reached before it stood so transferred.
(6) Every case pending before a Tribunal immediately before the
commencement of the Administrative Tribunals (Amendment)
Act, 1987, being a case the cause of action whereon it is based is
such that it would have been, if it had arisen after such commen-
G
cement, within the jurisdiction of any Court, shall together. with
the records thereof, stand transferred on such commencement to
such Court.
(7) Where any case stands transferred to a Court under sub-sec-
H tion (6), that Court may proceed to deal with such case from the
K.P. GUPTA» CONTROLLER PRTG. AND STATIONERY (S. SAGHIRAHMAD.JJ 445
stage \vhich \Vas reached before it stood so transferred. 1' A
29-A. Provision for filing of ce1tain appeals - Where any decree
11
or order has been made or passed by any Court (other than a High
Court) in any suit or proceeding before the establishment of a
Tribunal, being a suit or proceeding the cause of action whereon
it is based is such that it would have been, if it had arisen after B
such establishment, within the jurisdiction of such Tribunal, and
no appeal has been preferred against such decree or order before
such establishment and the time for preferring such appeal under
any law for the time being in force had not expired before such
establishment, such appeal shall lie-
c
_, (a) to the Central Administrative Tribunal, within ninety days
from the date on which the Administrative Tribunals
(Amendment) Bill, 1986 receives the assent of the President,
or within ninety days from the date of receipt of the copy of
such decree or Order, whichever is later, or D
(b) to any other Tribunal, within ninety days from its estab-
lishment or within ninety days from the date of receipt of
the copy of such decree or order, whichever is later."
It is then provided by section 33 that the Act shall have overriding E
effect.
Transfer of jurisdiction of regular Courts to another Court or
Tribunal has never been liked by litigants and lawyers as noticed by
Viscount Simonds in Smith v. East Elloe R.D.C., 1956 A.C. 736 who
observed that:- F
"Any one bred in the tradition of the law, is likely to regard with
little sympathy legislative provisions for ousting the jurisdiction of
the Court, whether in order that the subject may be deprived
altogether of remedy or in order that his grievance may be remitted
to some other Tribunal." G
Since the matter involved in this case relates to the ouster of juris-
diction of all regular Courts, including the High Court, we shall adopt a
rule of interpretation which is most appropriately applicable to the cir-
cumstances of the present case and the only Rule which can be most
.cl suitably applied is the rule of construction of giving ordinary meaning to H
446 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1995] SUPP. 4 S.C.R.
A the various expressions use<l in the Legislation and to construe various
seclions of 1he enactment as a vvhole, each provision, Iin the \VOrds of Lord
Wright in Jennings v. Kelly, [1939] 4 All ER 464(HL) throwing light, if need '
be, on the rest. This rule has since been accepted by this Court in Tahsildar
Singh v. State of U.P., AIR 1959 SC 1012 in which Subba Rao, J. (as he
then was)speaking for the Courr said:-
B
11
The cardinal rule of construction of the provisions of a section
with a proviso is to apply the broad general rule of construction
which is that a section or enactment must be construed as a whole
c
each portion throwing light if need be on the rest.
The true principle undoubtedly is that the sound interpretation
.
and n1eaning of the statute, on a view of the enacting clause saving
clause, and proviso, taken and construed together, is to prevail. 11
In Madan Lai Fakir Chand Dudhediya v. C/zangdeo Sugar Mills Ltd.,
AIR (1962) SC 1543 Gajendragadkar, J. (as he then was) observed :-
D
"The first rule of construction which is elementary, is that the
words used in the section must be given their plain grammatical
meaning. Since \Ve are dealing with two sub-sections of S. 76, it is
necessary that the said two sub-sections must be construed as a
whole "each portion throwing light, if need be, on the rest. "
E
Reverting back to section 14, we may immediately notice the striking
feature that this section begins with the words "Save as otherwise expressly
provided in this Actn which constitute an extremely significant expression
as they purport to constitute a "Saving Clause11 • This expression has also
..
been used in the opening part of sub-section (3) of section 14.
F
What is intended lo be saved is indicated in section 28 which,
incidentally, also purports to exclude the jurisdiction of almost all the
Courts in service matters. Section 14 and section 28 have, therefore, to be
read together to find out the real intent of the legislature a.s to the extent
of jurisdiction retained or excluded.
G
The jurisdiction which is transferred to and vested in the Tribunal is
the jurisdiction of all the Courts except the Supreme Court which is
expressly excluded.
The "matters" in respect of which this 11jurisdiction 11 is to be exercised
H are also indicated in this section. That is why it is provided in section 19
r
KP. GUPTA!-·. CONTROLLER PRTG.ANDSTATIONERY jS. SAGHIRAHMAD. .T.J 447
that any person aggrieved by an order (defined in the Explanation ap-
11 11
A
pended to sub-section (1) of tlrnt section) pertaining to any "matter" within
the "jurisdiction" of the Tribunal may approach the Tribunal for the redres-
sal of his grievance. While section 19 operates 11 subjcct to other provisions
of the Act", the field of operation of section 14 is limited by the use of the
words 11 save as otherwise expressly provided in this Act". These words
control and regulate whole of the section not only in respect of "jurisdic- B
11 11
tion11 but also the Matters specified therein. This constitutes the original
j"urisdiction of the Tribunal.
The appellate jurisdiction of the Tribunal is indicated in section 29
and 29A of the Act. While all appeals pending in various Courts, except
those pending in the High Court on the date from which Tribunal became
c
functional stand transferred to the Tribunal by the force of the Act, the
appeals in all cases which were decided prior to the establishment of
Tribunals, are required to be filed before the Tribunal, if they had not
already been filed provided the cause of action on which the case was
based is cognizable by the Tribunal. D
The appellate jurisdiction of the Tribunal is extremely limited and
was conferred on the Tribunal so that the judgment, if any passed, for
example, by a Munsif or Civil or Subordinate Judge in a Civil Suit relating
to a service matter (decided before the establishment of the Tribunal) may
E
be challenged before the Tribunal notwithstanding that the judgment
passed in that suit is not covered by the word "ordcr"defined in the
explanation appended to sub-section (i) of Section 14. Except the appeals,
which are transferred to the Tribunal or the appeals which may be filed
before the Tribunal in the above circumstances, no other appeal would lie
before the Tribunal. F
11
The "Saving Clause" or the Saving Phrase (not in the sense of
11
11
Repeals and Saving!!) divides njurisdictionn into two classes, namely, juris-
11
11 11
diction11 which is transferred to and vested in the Tribunal and jurisdiction
which is not so transferred and is, on the contrary, saved. When the G
jurisdiction thus became exercisable by the Tribunal, it was provided by
f'.·
section 28 that on Court shall exercise the jurisdiction, powers and
authority on and from the date from which such jurisdiction, powers and
authority becomes exercisable by a Tribunal. It however, excepts:-
(a) the Supreme Court; or H
448 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (1995] SUPP. 4 S.C.R.
A (b) any Industrial Tribunal, Labour Court or other authority
constituted under the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 or any
other corrcspnnding law for the ti1nc being in force.
It is therefore apparent that in spite of section 14 of the Act the
jurisdiction of the Industrial Tribunal, Labour Courts or other Authorities
B under the Industrial Disputes Acts or Authority created under any other
Correspl)nding Law rcn1ains unaffected. The original, or for that matter?
the Appellate Authority under the payment of Wages Act is neither an
Industrial Tribunal nor a Labour Court nor arc they "Authorities" under
the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 but if the payment of Wage Act is
c ultimately found to be a ''Corresponding Law'', the jurisdiction of the
Authorities under the Payment of Wages Act would also be saved.
Let us take up this exercise.
Payment of Wages Act, 1936 is an Act to regulate the payment of
D wages to certain classes of person employed in an industry. The Act was
amended from time to time and was ultimately amended in 1982 by Act 38
of 1982 with the following objects and reasons :-
"The payment of Wages Act, 1936 regulates the payment of wages
to certain classes of persons cn1ployed in industry. It was enacted
E to ensure that the wages payable to employees covered by the Act
are disbursed by the employers within the prescribed time limit
and that no deductions other than those authorised by law are
made by the employers. The Act applies proprio vigore lo the
payn1cnl of \Vagcs to persons en1ploycd in any factory or to persons
F t:n1pluycd in a railway by a railway a<l1ninistration either <lircctly
or through a sub-contractor. Further, the State Government are
.en1po\vcred to extend the provisions of the Act to cover persons
employed in any industrial establishment or any class or group of
Industrial establishments as defined in the Act. The wage limit for
the applicability of the Act is Rs. l,000 per mensem. It is proposed
G
to amend the Act with a view to extending its protection to a larger
nun1bcr of pcrson.s and making the provisions of the Act n1ore
effective and beneficial. 11
While the Act, to begin with , was applicable to industrial estab-
H lishments so as to ensure payment of wages to workmen or persons
KP. GUPTA~·. CONTROLLER PRTO.ANDSTATIONERY [S. SAGHIRAHM1\D.J.J 449
en1ploycd in an industry at regular intervals \Vithout any unauthorised A
deduction, the an1end1nents introduced by Act 38 of 1982 widened the
scope of the original Act as many !!other establishn1ents'' could be brought
\Vithin its purvie\V on a Gazette notification issued either by the c:cntral
(Jovernment or the State C.Jovcrnn1ent.
Section 2 contains definitions of various tern1s, nan1cly, "E1nployed B
11
person'', 1'En1ploycr", "Factory11, !!Industrial or other establish1nents , "Rail-
1 11
way Ad1ninistration and Wagcs" etc. Almost all these terms are a!So
'
defined in the Industrial Disputes Act. In order to understand whether
payment of Wages Act is part of the legislative scheme governing Industrial
Law, we would, by way of illustration concentrate on "Wages'' and its C
recovery from the employer through judicial process. The definition of
Wages 11 in section 2 (vi) is an exhaustive definition which is in very wide
11
terms. Its relevant portion is quoted below :-
"2 (vi). "Wages" means all remuneration( whether by way of salary,
allowances or otherwise) expressed in terms of money or capable D
of being so expressed which would, if the terms of employment,
express or implied, were fulfilled, be payable to a person employed
in respect of his employment or of work done in such employment,
and includes -
(a) any remuneration payable under any award or settlement
E
between the partie~ or order of a Court ;
(b) any remuneration to which the person employed is en-
titled in respect of ovcrtin1e work or holidays or any leave
period; F
(c) any additional remuneration payable under the terms of
employment (whether called a bonus or by any other name);
(d) any sum which by reason of termination of employment
of the person employed is payable under any law, contract or G
instrument which provides for the pay111cnt of such sum,
whether with or without deductions hut does not provide for
the time within the payment is to be made;
(e) any sum to which the person employed is entitled under
any scheme fran1ed under any law for the time being in force; H
450 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1995] SUPP. 4 S.C.R.
A but does not include -
( J) .
(2) ..... .
(3)
B
(4) ........................... .
(5) ......... ··········· .. .
(6) ························ .... .
c
Under the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, the term "Wages" has been
defined in section 2 (rr) as under :-
11
n2(rr). "Wages means all remuneration capable of being expressed
in terms of money, which would, if the terms of employment,
D express or implied, were fulfilled, be payable to a workman in
respect of his employment or of work done in such employment,
and includes-
(i) such allowances (including dearness allowance) as the
workman is for the time being entitled to;
E
(ii) the value of any house accommodation, or of supply of light,
water, medical attendance or other amenity or of any service
or of any concessional supply of foodgrains or other articles;
(iii) any travailing concession;
F
(iv) any commission payable on the promotion of sales or busi-
ness or both ;
but does not include-
G (•) ...............................................
(b). ·············································
(c) .............................................. .
H If the "Wages" are not paid within the prescribed time limit or
KP. GUPTA v. CONTROLLERPRTG.ANDSTATIONERY [S. SAGHJRAH~·tAD.J.] 451
deductions, other than those authorised hy la\v, are n1a<lc by the ernploycrs A
the employee can recover it under the payment of Wages Act for which an
elaborate machinery has heen provided in section 15 relevant portion nf
\vhich is quoted bclov..r :-
'/5. Clai111s arising out of deductions fiD111 lvages or delay in
1
paynrenl <~( 1vages and jJenalty j(Jr 111alicious or ve.ratious clainis :-
B
(1) The State Government may, by notification in the official
Gazette, appoint la pre~iding officer of any Labour Court or
Industrial Tribunal, constituted under the Industrial Disputes Act,
1947 (14 of 1947), or under any corresponding law relating to the C
investigation and settlement of industrial disputes in force in the
State orJ any Commissioner for Workmen's Compensation or other
officer with experience as a Judge of Civil Court or as a stipendiary
Magistrate lo be the authority to hear and decide for any specified
area all claims arising out of deductions from the wages, or delay D
in payment of the wages [of persons employed or paid in that area],
including all matters incidental to such claims : ·
Provided that where the State Government considers it neces-
sary so to do, it may appoint more than one authority for any
specified area and may, by general or special order, provide for E
the distribution or allocation of work to be performed by them
under this Act.
(2) Where contrary to the provisions of this Act any deduction has
been made forn1 the \Vages of a·n cn1ployed person, or any pay1nent F
of wages has been delayed, such person himself, or any legal
practitioner or any official of a registered trade union authorised
in \Vriting to act on his behalf. or any Inspector under this Act, or
any other person acting with the permission of the authority
appointed under sub-section (1), may apply to such authority for
a direction under sub-section (3) : G
Provided that every such application shall be presented within
[twelve months] from the date on which the deduction from the
wages was n1ade Of form the date On \Vhich the payment of the
wages was due to be n1ade, as the case may be : H
452 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1995] SUPP. 4 S.C.R.
A Provided further that any application may be admitted after the
said period of [twelve months] when the applicant satisfies the
authority that he had sufficient cause for not making the apr}lica-
tion \Vilhin such period.
(3) When any application under sub-section (2) is cntcrtoinccL the
B authority shall hear the applicant and the en1ploycr of other
persons responsible for the payn1cnt of \vagcs under section 3, or
give tbcn1 an opportunity of being hcard and, after such further
1
inquiry (if any) as 1nay be necessary, may) without prejudice to any
other penalty to which such employer or other person is liable
c under this Act, direct the refund to the employed person of the
amount deducted, or the payment of the delayed wages, together
with the payment of such compensation as the authority may think
fit, not exceeding ten times the amount deducted in the former
case and [not exceeding twenty-five rupees in the latter, and even
if the amount deducted or the delayed wages are paid before the
D disposal of the application, direct the payment of such compensa-
tion, as the authority may think fit, not exceeding twenty-five
rupees] :
Provided that no direction for the payment of compensation
shall bc made in the case of delayed wages if the authority is
E
satisfied that the delay was due to -
(a) a bone fide error or bona fide dispute as to the amount
payable to the employed person or
F (h) the occurrence of an en1crgency, or the existence of
exccptiona] circumstances, such that the person re.sponsihle
for the payment of the wages was unable, though exercising
reasonable diligence, to make prompt payment, or
(c) the failure of the employed person to apply for or accept
G payment.
(4) ············································
(4-A) .......................................... .
H (4-B) ........................... :............. .
\ ·, • .\~" • I"· I
K.P. GUPTA v. CONTROLLER PRTG.AND~"'TATIONERY [S. SAGI-URAHMAD,J.] 453
(5) ........................................... A
Before procec<ling further , \VC 1nay point out that there have been
many local amendments made almost by all the States in the Act but for
purposes of the question under our consideration, \vill refer to the text of
the Central Act which is the parent Act.
B
A perusal of section 15 (1) would indicate that the State Government
has lo constitute an" Authority" by appointing either the presiding Officer
of a Labour Court or Industrial Tribunal or any Commissioner for
workmen's Compensation or a Judge of a Civil Court or Stipendiary
Magistrate lo hear and decide all claims arising out of deductions from the
wages or delay in payment of wages including all matters incidental thereto. c
If an employee does not get his wages in time and its payment is delayed
or deductions are made form the wages unauthorisedly, he may either
personally or through a legal practitioner or any official of a registered
Trade Union or any Inspector appointed under the Act, may, apply to the
"Authority" constituted under the Act and the latter namely, the D
"Authority", after hearing the employer or any other person responsible for
payment of wages, may direct the refund of the amount deducted or
payment of delayed wages , as the case may be, together with compensation
as indicated in sub- section (3) of section 15 without prejudice to the
penalty to which the employer or the other person may be liable under the
Act. The amount so awarded is recoverable as fine imposed by a E
Magistrate as indicated in sub-section (5) of section 15.
Under section 33 C of the Industrial Disputes Act, there is an
altogether different machinery provided for recovery of wages etc. It
provides as under :-
F
"33C. Recove1y of money due ji"om an employer - (1) Where any
1noncy is due to a workman from an employer under a settlement
or an award or under the provisions of [Chapter V A or Chapter
VB], the workman himself or any other person authorised by him
in writing in this behalf, or, in the case of the death of the workman,
his assignee or heirs may, without prejudice to any other mode of G
recovery, make an application to the appropriate Government for
the recovery of the money due to him, and if the appropriate
Government is satisfied that any money is so due, it shall issue a
certificate for that amount lo the Collector who shall proceed to
recover the same in the same manner as an arrear of land revenue: H
454 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1995] SUPP. 4 S.C.R.
A Provided th al every such application shall be made within one year
from the date on which the money became due lo the workman
from the employer :
Provided further that any such applic(Jtion 1nay be enterlaine<l after
the expjry of the sai<l period of unc year, if the appropriate
B Government is satisfied that the applicant had sufficient cause for
nol making the application within the said period.
(2) Where any workman is entitled lo receive from the employer
any money or any benefit which is capable of being computed in
c terms of n1oncy and if any question arises as to the an1ount of
money due or as to the amount at which such benefit should be
computed, then the question may, subject to any rules that may be
made under this Act, be decided by such Labour Court as may be
specified in this behalf by the appropriate Government [within a
period not exceeding three months].
D
[Provided that where the presiding officer of a Labour Court
considers it necessary or expedient so to do he may, for reasons
to be recorded in writing extend such period by such further period
as he may think fit.]
E
(3) For the purposes of computing the money value of a benefit,
the Labour Court may, if it so thinks fit, appoint a Commissioner
who shall, after taking such evidence as may be necessary , submit
a report to the Labour Court and the Labour Court shall determine
the an1ount after considering the report of the ·commissioner and
F other circu1nstances of the case.
(4) The decision of the Labour Court shall be forwarded by it to
the appropriate Government and any amount found due by the
Labour Court may be recovered in the manner provided for in
sub-section (1).
G
(5) Where workmen employed under the same employer are
entitled to receive from him any money or any benefit capable of
being con1puted in tern1s of money, then, subject to such rules as
may be made in this, behalf, a single application for the recovery
H of the amount due oiay be made on behalf of or in respect of any
K.P. GUPTA v. CONTROLLERPRTG.ANDSTATIONERY jS. SAGHIRAHMAD. .1.] 455
number of such workmen. 11 A
Under sub-Section (i) of section 33 c: the an1ount ·for the recovery
of \Vhich proceedings 1nay be initiated by a \Vorkn1an, may abo consist of
the an1ount <luc under a settlement or <Jn award. This nlay be con1parcd
\vith the definition of '1Wages 11 as contained in section 2 (vi) of the pay1nent
of \Vagcs Act) \vhich also includes 11 rc1nuneration payable under any B
Awar<l or Settlement'' It is obvious that if any part of this amount is
withheld or its payment is unreasonably delayed, the employee can recover
it under the payment of Wages Act.
Jn Town Municipal Council, Atiwni v. Labour Cmut, [1969 (2) Labour
Law Journal 651], this Court while affirming the decision of the Mysore C
High Court, since reported in 1968 (1) Labour Law Journal 779, laid down
that questions relating to payment of minimum wages to the employee at
the agreed rate or any amount for overtime work or for work on off-days
can be considered and decided not only under the payment of Wages Act
but also under section 33 C(2) of the Industrial Disputes Act 1947, and D
that jurisdiction of the Labour Court under section 33 C(2) is not barred
on account of the provisions contained in the payment of Wages Act.
This decision has been cited only as an effort to indicate that claim
for wages can be entertained not only under the payment of Wages Act
but also under section 33C (2) of the Industrial Disputes Act. E
Thus, the character and function of the Labour Court under the
Industrial Disputes Acl as also the Authority under the payment of Wages
Act are similar in purpose and both are designed to produce the same
result particularly as some of the provisions under both the Act prescribe
the same thing to he done. F
The Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 and the payment of Wages Act,
1936 are, therefore, "Corresponding Law" qua each other particularly as
both are part of the same social legislative canopy made by the Parliament
for immediate amelioration of workmen's plight resulting from non-pay-
ment, or delayed payment or, for that matter, short payment of their G
\vages.
The word "corresponding" is defined in Shorter Oxford Dictionary as
''answering to in character and function; similar to''. This meaning has been
adopted in Winter v. Minisuy of Transpmt, [1972 NZLR 539] in which it has
been observed as under :- H
456 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1995[ SUPP. 4 S.C.R.
A 11 11
We read corresponding 11 in S.20A as including a new section
dealing \Vith the san1c subject n1atter as the old one , in a manner
or \Vith a result not so far different fro111 the old as to strain the
accepted tncaning of the \Vord !!corresponding" as given in the
Shorter ()xfor<l English Dictionary - rraTIS\VCring to in character and
1
function; si1nilar to' The nc\v jscctionJ answers to the old one ...
•
B in characlcr and function ; it is sin1ilar in purpose, prescribes the
same thing to be done, and is designed to produce the same result.
We hold it tu be a "corresponding section". [See Words & Phrases
3rd Edition Vol.I]
Our conclusion, therefore, is irresistible that the "Authority" con-
c stituted under section 15 and the Appellate Authority under section 17 of
the payment of Wages Act, fall within the exception indicated in section
28 of the Administrative Tribunal Act and this Act, namely, payment of
Wages Act, is positively covered by the connotation "corresponding Law11
used in that section. Consequently, the jurisdiction of the Authority to
D entertain and decide claim cases under section 15 of the payment of Wages
Act is not affected by the establishment of the Administrative Tribunals.
Learned counsel for the respondent then contended that since clause
(b) of section 2 has been deleted by Act No. 19 of 1986 and the Act has
been made applicable to all person employed in Industrial establishments
E and factories to whom the Adt, as originally enacted did not apply, and
since the jurisdiction of all court has come to be vested in the Tribunal, an
appeal under section 17 of the payment of Wages Act cannot be legally
filed before a COUrtn IlOr Can pending appeals be heard by the COUTt
11 11 11
and, therefore, the Tribunal was justified in the instant case to dispose of
the appeal on merits after receiving it on transfer under section 29 from
F the Court of the District .I udge. This contention, too, has no substance.
While deleting clause (b) from section 2 so as to make the Act
applicable to workmen etc., the Parliament by the same Amending Act
namely, Act No 19 of 1986, introduced clauses (a) and (b) in section 28 so
as to preserve the jurisdiction of the Suprerne Court, the Labour Courts,
G
Industrial Tribunals and, as we have already found, the Authorities under
the payment of Wages Act which we have further found to be "Correspond-
ing Law" within the meaning of clause (b) of section 28.
It appears strange that although Act has been applied to persons
H working in factories etc., the jurisdiction to try their cases has not been
KP. GUPTA, .. CONTROLLER PRTG.ANDSTATIONERYIS. SAGHIR AHMAD. l.J 457
given to the Trihunal. This is, indeed, an incongruity. But then incongruity A
is the hahit of legislative drafting.
In this connection, \VC 1nay, refer again to section 29 and 29A as
1
under both the sL:ctions, the emphasis is on "cause of action' Under section
•
29, an appeal sh;ill stand transferred to, and under section 29A, an appeal
can be filed before, the Tribunal if the cause of action on \vhich suit or
11 B
proceedings" were initiated would have been cognisablc by the Tribunal.
Since on the original cause of action, a claim under section 15 of the
Payment of Wages Act could not have been made to the Tribunal, the
appeal would not stand transferred to nor can appeal contemplated under
section 17 of the Payment of Wages Act be filed before it. The Appellate c
Authority is part of the Justice Delivery System constituted under section
17 of the payment of Wages Act. Its jurisdiction will not be affected by the
establishment of Administrative Tribunals particularly as appeal has always
been treated to be a continuation of the original proceedings. Consequent-
ly, the two tier judicial system, original as well as appellate, constituted D
under the TTCorresponding Lavi', like the payment of Wages Acl, are not
affected hy the conslit11tion of the Tribunals and the system shall continue
to function as before, with the result that if any case is decided under
section 15 of the Payment of Wages Act, it will not be obligatory to file an
appeal before the Tribunal as required by section 29A of the Act but the
appeal shall lie under section 17 of the Payment of Wages Act before the E
District Judge. The pending appeals shall also, therefore, not stand trans-
ferred to the Tribunal under section 29 of the Act. If it were a mere matter
under general or common law and an appeal arising from a suit in ·a service
matter decided by the Trial Court and pending in the Court of the District
Judge under Section 96 C.P.C. would have been the subject of controversy
F
whether it \voul<l be transferred to the Tribunal or not, our answer would
have been an instant 11 yesr1 but the matter involved before us is different as
it relates to the exercise of special jurisdiction by the District Judge under
payment of Wages Act, which is a protected jurisdiction.
Any other view will be destructive not only of the "Saving clause" in G
the opening part of section 14 but also of the exceptions carved out in
11
section 28 together with the cause of action'1 theory contained in sections
29 and 29A of the Act.
Learned counsel for the respondent has placed reliance on a Full H
458 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1995] SUPP. 4S.C.R.
A Bench decision of the Chandigarh Central Administrative Tribunal in
Union of India v. Samp Chand Sing/a, [1989 (1) All India Services Law
Journal 491 (CAT)) in which it has been held that since the District Judge
is a Court within the meaning of section 14 (1) as also section 28 of the
Act, it is left with no jurisdiction to hear and decide the appeals pending
before it on and from the date on which the Tribunals were established as
B
jurisdiction, power and authority of all Courts stood transferred to the
Tribunal. This decision, in our opinion, is erroneous and does not lay down
the correct law. The Full Bench did not consider the impact of the words
"Save as otherwise provided in the Act" used in section 14 nor did it
consider the significance of the \vords 11 Corresponding Law11 occurring in
C section 28 of the act.
We wind up this discussion with the last words that though the
Tribunal has been constituted as a substitute for the High Court under
Article 323 A, the Labour Courts and Industrial Tribunals etc. over which
the High Court exercises supervisory jurisdiction continue lo function with
D the incongruous result that thought the High Court cannot quash their
judgn1cnts, it must continue to supervise their functioning. Let us a\vait the
decision of the Constitution Bench.
For the reasons set out above, we allow the appeal and set aside the
E judgment and order dated 04.07.94 passed by the Administrative Tribunal,
Chandigarh and direct that the appeal papers shall be transmitted
forthwith to the District Judge, Chandigarh for disposal on merits.
!.M.A. Appeal allowed.
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