High Court of Gujarat

STATE OF GUJARAT THROUGH RANGE FOREST OFFICERversusSHRI JETHABHAI JAGABHAI GORA

Disposal: 26-DISMISSED @ ADM.STAGE
Bench: HEMANT M PRACHCHHAK

Holding

The petition is dismissed as the Court will not exercise jurisdiction for a claim of such small amount.

Summary

The State of Gujarat, represented by the Range Forest Officer, filed a special civil application under Articles 226 and 227 of the Constitution challenging a Labour Court order that awarded a compensation of Rs.70,000 to a workman. The petition argued various grounds against the Labour Court's decision. The High Court observed that the amount involved was nominal and, therefore, chose not to exercise its jurisdiction under the constitutional provisions. Consequently, without addressing the merits, the Court dismissed the petition on the basis of the smallness of the claim. The order also directed the petitioner to deposit the awarded amount within eight weeks for disbursement to the workman via RTGS/NEFT after verification.

Issues considered

Whether the High Court should entertain a petition under Articles 226 and 227 of the Constitution for a claim of Rs.70,000.

Legislation cited

Constitution of Indias. Article 226, s. Article 227

Subjects

Constitutional lawArticle 226Article 227Judicial reviewLabour lawCompensationJurisdictionSmall claims

Judgment

      C/SCA/17001/2025                            ORDER DATED: 13/01/2026




          IN THE HIGH COURT OF GUJARAT AT AHMEDABAD

          R/SPECIAL CIVIL APPLICATION NO. 17001 of 2025

==========================================
      STATE OF GUJARAT THROUGH RANGE FOREST OFFICER
                            Versus
                SHRI JETHABHAI JAGABHAI GORA
==========================================
Appearance:
MS AGNEYA MANKAD AGP for the Petitioner(s) No. 1
==========================================

     CORAM:HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE HEMANT M. PRACHCHHAK

                          Date : 13/01/2026

                              ORAL ORDER


1.      By way of present petition under Article 226 & 227 of the
Constitution of India, petitioner has challenged the order dated
26.04.2024 passed by the Presiding O7cer, Labour Court, Godhra in
Reference (T) Case No. 56 of 2018 whereby the Labour Court has
allowed the reference and awarded compensation of Rs.70,000/- in
favour of the workman.


2.      Heard Ms.Agneya Mankad, learned Assistant Government
Pleader for the petitioner.


3.      Though various grounds have been raised in the memo of
petition, the fact remains that the total amount involved in the
petition is only Rs.70,000/-. Considering the smallness of amount, this
Court deems it At not to exercise jurisdiction under Article 226 and
227 of the Constitution of India. Accordingly, without entering into the
merits of the matter only on the ground of smallness of amount with a

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         C/SCA/17001/2025                                                                 ORDER DATED: 13/01/2026




 further clariAcation that this may not be considered as precedent in
 other matters, the petition is dismissed.


 4.         If the amount is not deposited by the petitioner, the same shall
 be deposited within a period of eight weeks from the date of receipt of
 order of this Court. Once the amount is deposited, the same shall be
 disbursed in favour of the workman, after verifying his bank details
 and after following due procedure, through RTGS/NEFT.


                                                                      (HEMANT M. PRACHCHHAK,J)
 V.R. PANCHAL

Original copy of this order has been signed by the Hon'ble Judge.
Digitally signed by: VIJAYKUMAR RAMESHBHAI PANCHAL(HC00171), PRINCIPAL PRIVATE SECRETARY, at High Court of Gujarat on 13/01/2026 14:40:54




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