The Allahabad High Court found the definition of a 'workman' in the Uttar Pradesh Industrial Disputes Act so anomalous that it requested the government to amend it. But the Supreme Court observed that the high court had exceeded its jurisdiction by asking the legislature to change the law. In the judgment delivered last week in Pepsico India Holding Ltd vs K K Pandey, the apex court stated that the high court should not have asked the government to amend the definition of 'workman'. According to the Act, anyone who draws a salary above Rs 500 per month could not be considered a workman and he is beyond the purview of the law. Pepsico terminated a fleet executive and he challenged the management's action. The company invoked the rule and said that since he was drawing a salary of about Rs 8,000, he could not move the labour court. His plea was dismissed by the labour court. But on appeal, the high court said that the rule was an archaic hangover of the 1947 Act when the money value was high. The high court considered the executive as a workman and asked the labour court to consider his petition. The firm appealed to the Supreme Court. It set aside the high court order.
In OP(Crl.).No.348 OF 2019, T.K.SAJEEVAN vs FRANCIS T.CHACKO, the appeal was filed against the order of the lower court to deposit 25% of the fine before filling of appeal. The appellant argued that the deposit introduced through the Section 148 of the NI Act after amendment was directory in nature as it used the term 'may' while mentioning the issue of deposit. The Kerala High Court however disagreeing held that in view of the object of the Legislature while incorporating Section 148 into N.I. Act, the word 'may' will have to be read as 'shall'. The imposition of payment contemplated under Section 148 N.I. Act cannot be restricted to some prosecutions and evaded in other prosecutions. Since the amount directed to be deposited being compensation, undoubtedly, it is liable to be ordered to be deposited irrespective of the nature of the prosecution. Therefore, the word 'may' can only be taken to have the colour and meaning of 'shall' and there
Comments
Post a Comment