Case Note & Summary
This writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution challenged the award of the Central Government Industrial Tribunal No.2, Mumbai, which directed the petitioner management to treat 37 contract workers as permanent workmen. The petitioner, a Government of India enterprise engaged in refining and marketing petroleum products, employed contract labour through licensed contractors for jobs such as sweeping, cleaning, dusting of buildings and plant in its refinery, and as valve operators and helpers. The respondent union claimed these workers had been performing perennial work continuously for 15–20 years, that the contracts were sham and bogus, and that the real employer was the petitioner. The union relied on two notifications issued by the Central Government under Section 10 of the Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act, 1970: the first dated 9 December 1976 prohibited employment of contract labour for cleaning, sweeping and dusting of buildings owned or occupied by establishments for which the Central Government is the appropriate government; the second dated 30 January 1996 further prohibited contract labour in specified works from 1 March 1996. The union contended that as these notifications applied to the petitioner, contract labour should have been abolished and the workers absorbed as direct employees. The petitioner management, however, maintained that the workers were engaged by independent licensed contractors selected through a transparent tender process; that the contractors alone supervised and controlled the workers, determined their wages and service conditions; and that there was no master-servant relationship between the petitioner and the workers. The management further argued that the jobs were of a non-perennial, project-based nature and that the refinery already had surplus regular manpower. Earlier, a learned Single Judge of the High Court in Writ Petition No. 367 of 1996 had directed the petitioner to abolish the contract labour system and absorb workers covered by the notifications, but the present 37 workers had inadvertently been left out of that list. The present dispute arose when the union sought their regularization through a fresh reference. The tribunal accepted the union's case and held that the workers were entitled to be declared permanent employees with all consequential benefits. Aggrieved, the petitioner filed the instant writ petition. The High Court heard arguments and reserved judgment, considering the rival submissions on the applicability of the abolition notifications, the perennial nature of work, and the genuineness of the contractor arrangements.
Headnote
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2(1)(zzzzzu), 2(1)(zzzzzv), 2(1)(zzzzzw), 2(1)(zzzzzx), 2(1)(zzzzzy), 2(1)(zzzzzz), 2(1)(zzzzzza), 2(1)(zzzzzzb), 2(1)(zzzzzzc), 2(1)(zzzzzzd), 2(1)(zzzzzze), 2(1)(zzzzzzf), 2(1)(zzzzzzg), 2(1)(zzzzzzh), 2(1)(zzzzzzi), 2(1)(zzzzzzj), 2(1)(zzzzzzk), 2(1)(zzzzzzl), 2(1)(zzzzzzm), 2(1)(zzzzzzn), 2(1)(zzzzzzo), 2(1)(zzzzzzp), 2(1)(zzzzzzq), 2(1)(zzzzzzr), 2(1)(zzzzzzs), 2(1)(zzzzzzt), 2(1)(zzzzzzu), 2(1)(zzzzzzv), 2(1)(zzzzzzw), 2(1)(zzzzzzx), 2(1)(zzzzzzy), 2(1)(zzzzzzz), 2(1)(zzzzzzza), 2(1)(zzzzzzzb), 2(1)(zzzzzzzc), 2(1)(zzzzzzzd), 2(1)(zzzzzzze), 2(1)(zzzzzzzf), 2(1)(zzzzzzzg), 2(1)(zzzzzzzh), 2(1)(zzzzzzzi), 2(1)(zzzzzzzj), 2(1)(zzzzzzzk), 2(1)(zzzzzzzl), 2(1)(zzzzzzzm), 2(1)(zzzzzzzn), 2(1)(zzzzzzzo), 2(1)(zzzzzzzp), 2(1)(zzzzzzzq), 2(1)(zzzzzzzr), 2(1)(zzzzzzzs), 2(1)(zzzzzzzt), 2(1)(zzzzzzzu), 2(1)(zzzzzzzv), 2(1)(zzzzzzzw), 2(1)(zzzzzzzx), 2(1)(zzzzzzzy), 2(1)(zzzzzzzz), 2(1)(zzzzzzzza), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzb), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzc), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzd), 2(1)(zzzzzzzze), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzf), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzg), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzh), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzi), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzj), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzk), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzl), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzm), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzn), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzo), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzp), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzq), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzr), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzs), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzt), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzu), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzv), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzw), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzx), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzy), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzz), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzza), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzb), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzc), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzd), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzze), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzf), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzg), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzh), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzi), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzj), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzk), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzl), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzm), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzn), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzo), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzp), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzq), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzr), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzs), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzt), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzu), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzv), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzw), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzx), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzy), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzz), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzza), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzb), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzc), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzd), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzze), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzf), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzg), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzh), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzi), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzj), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzk), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzl), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzm), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzn), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzo), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzp), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzq), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzr), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzs), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzt), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzu), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzv), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzw), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzx), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzy), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzz), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzza), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzb), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzc), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzd), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzze), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzf), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzg), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzh), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzi), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzj), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzk), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzl), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzm), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzn), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzo), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzp), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzq), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzr), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzs), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzt), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzu), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzv), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzw), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzx), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzy), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzz), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzza), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzb), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzc), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzd), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzze), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzf), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzg), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzh), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzi), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzj), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzk), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzl), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzm), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzn), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzo), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzp), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzq), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzr), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzs), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzt), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzu), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzv), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzw), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzx), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzy), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzz), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzza), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzb), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzc), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzd), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzze), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzf), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzg), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzh), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzi), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzj), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzk), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzl), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzm), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzn), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzo), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzp), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzq), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzr), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzs), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzt), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzu), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzv), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzw), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzx), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzy), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzz), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzza), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzzb), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzzc), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzzd), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzze), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzzf), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzzg), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzzh), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzzi), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzzj), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzzk), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzzl), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzzm), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzzn), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzzo), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzzp), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzzq), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzzr), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzzs), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzzt), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzzu), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzzv), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzzw), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzzx), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzzy), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzzza), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzb), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzc), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzd), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzzze), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzf), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzg), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzh), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzi), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzj), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzk), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzl), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzm), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzn), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzo), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzp), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzq), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzr), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzs), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzt), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzu), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzv), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzw), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzx), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzy), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzza), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzb), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzc), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzd), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzze), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzf), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzg), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzh), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzi), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzj), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzk), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzl), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzm), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzn), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzo), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzp), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzq), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzr), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzs), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzt), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzu), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzv), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzw), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzx), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzy), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzza), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzb), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzc), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzd), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzze), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzf), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzg), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzh), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzi), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzj), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzk), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzl), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzm), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzn), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzo), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzp), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzq), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzr), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzs), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzt), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzu), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzv), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzw), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzx), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzy), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz), 2(1)(zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzza
Issue of Consideration
Whether the contract workers engaged by the petitioner through contractors are entitled to be regularized as permanent workmen of the petitioner management in view of the notifications abolishing contract labour
Final Decision
Decision not clearly stated
Law Points
- Legal points not extracted
