Dismissed¶49

C.Chitti Babu (Deceased) v. The Special Deputy

Madras HC20 Mar 2025WP/19107/2015

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Writ petition dismissed; approval of dismissal under S.33 2(B) Industrial Disputes Act 1947 upheld; supervisor-conducted domestic enquiry held fair; pendency of criminal case no bar to approval - departmental and criminal proceedings differ in standard of proof; TNSTC Vellore driver dismissed after fatal 23.08.2012 bus accident killing nine passengers; legal heirs substituted after petitioner's death; liberty to work out remedies; limitation protection for pendency period.

What did the court decide?

Writ petition dismissed with no costs and connected miscellaneous petition closed; however, liberty granted to the legal heirs to work out the remedy available to them in the manner known to law, and the period during which the petition remained pending shall not be taken into account while computing the period of limitation. ¶49

C.Chitti Babu (Deceased) Vs The Special Deputy — Writ and Judicial Review | Madras HC (2025)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

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Issue for consideration

Whether the domestic enquiry conducted by a supervisor (rather than a higher official) rendered the dismissal of the petitioner defective such that the impugned approval order warrants interference. +1 more

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Court's answer

The domestic enquiry was conducted in a fair manner notwithstanding the objection as to the manner of its conduct; just because a supervisor conducted the domestic enquiry, it does not mean the domestic enquiry is farce.

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Ratio / Principle

Departmental proceedings and criminal proceedings are two different proceedings with totally different standards of proof; even an acquittal in the criminal case would not bind the authorities in awarding punishment in departmental proceedings; accordingly, this Court finds no perversity in the order passed by the Labour Court granting its approval to the dismissal.

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Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Madras High Court (M. Dhandapani, J.) dismisses W.P.No.19107 of 2015 (decided 20.03.2025) filed by the legal heirs of C.Chitti Babu, a Driver with about 20 years' service under Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation Ltd. (VPM), Vellore Region, who was dismissed following a bus accident on 23.08.2012 near Hosur-Chennai route causing the death of nine passengers and injuries to many others. The writ petition challenged the order dated 16.03.2015 in A.P.No.107 of 2013 of the Special Commissioner of Labour (Labour Court) granting approval under Section 33 2 (B) of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 to the dismissal. Holding: (i) the domestic enquiry, though conducted by a supervisor, was fair - supervision-rank enquiry does not make the enquiry a farce; (ii) departmental and criminal proceedings are distinct with totally different standards of proof, so an acquittal in the pending criminal case would not bind the disciplinary authorities, and there is no perversity in the Labour Court's approval. Liberty left to the legal heirs (original petitioner died 15.02.2013; LRs substituted by order dated 12.03.2025) to pursue available remedies; pendency period of the writ petition excluded while computing limitation.

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W.P.No.19107 of 2015

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

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DATED : 20.03.2025

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CORAM :

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THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE M. DHANDAPANI

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W.P.No.19107 of 2015 and

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W.M.P.No.9753 of 2025

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C.Chitti Babu

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(deceased)

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Vimala Chitti Babu

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3.Rajkumar Chittibabu

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Janani Chittibabu

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(P2 to P4 are substituted as LRs of deceased P1 as per order dated 12.03.2025 in W.M.P.No.9748 of 2025 in W.P.No.19107 of 2015 by MDIJ)

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... Petitioners

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Vs.

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The Special Commissioner of Labour, Office of the Deputy Commissioner Chennai - 600 006.

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Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation Ltd., {VPM} Ltd, Vellore Region, Vellore -9 by its General Manager

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... Respondents

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Prayer : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying for issuance of Writ of Certiorari Mandamus directing to

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Page No.1 of 6

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https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

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W.P.No.19107 of 2015

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grant the back wages continuity of services with all attendee benefits, promotional and monetary employee the writ petitioner C.Chittibabu and all the above said and other benefits may be directed to the granted and paid to the Legal Heirs named petitioners No.1, 2 and 3 herein. [ Prayer amended as per order dated 12.03.2025 in W.M.P.No.9753 of 2025 in W.P.no.19107 of 2015 by MDIJ]

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For Petitioners : Mr.S.R.Sundaram For R1 : Mr.K.Surendran Additional Government Pleader For R2 Ms.S.Pavithra

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ORDER

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Challenging the order of the first respondent dated 16.03.2015 in

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A.P.No.107 of 2013, the present writ petition has been filed. The original

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writ petitioner expired on 15.02.2013 and his legal heirs are brought on record vide order dated 12.03.2025 in W.M.P.No.9748 of 2025.

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2. The deceased petitioner was employed as a Driver under the

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second respondent Corporation. He had put in nearly 20 years of service.

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While so, on 23.08.2012, he was driving a bus belonging to the Corporation from Hosur to Chennai. The deceased petitioner dashed against a lorry which resulted in the death of nine passengers and injuries Page No.2 of 6

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https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

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W.P.No.19107 of 2015

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to many others.

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3. The second respondent Corporation followed the formalities and passed an order of dismissal. The second respondent Corporation filed an approval petition under Section 33 2 (B) of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 before the first respondent. The first respondent allowed the approval petition. Challenging which, the present writ petition has been filed.

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4. The learned counsel for the petitioners submitted that the enquiry was not conducted by an higher official and only supervisor have conducted the domestic enquiry. The learned counsel also submitted that Criminal case is pending against the petitioner and without waiting for the outcome of the criminal case, the first respondent ought to have given its stamp of approval. The learned counsel therefore submitted that the impugned order needs interference by this Court.

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5. The learned counsel for the second respondent submitted that principles of natural justice was followed before dismissing the deceased petitioner and the necessary provisions mandated under Section 33 (2) B Page No.3 of 6

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https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

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W.P.No.19107 of 2015

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of the Act was followed. The learned counsel therefore submitted that impugned order does not warrant any disturbance and the same may be confirmed.

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6. Heard the learned counsel on either side and perused the materials placed on record.

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7. It is stated that the deceased petitioner had put in 20 years of service on account of the accident that the deceased petitioner had caused, which have resulted in loss of nine lives and injury to many others. The second respondent Corporation had initiated domestic enquiry which culminated in passing the order of dismissal. Though the objection was raised as to the manner in which the domestic enquiry was conducted, this Court is convinced that the enquiry was conducted in a fair manner. Just because a supervisor conducted domestic enquiry, it does not mean the domestic enquiry is farce.

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8. The contention raised by the learned counsel for the petitioners that when the criminal case was pending, the first respondent Labour Court was not justified in granting its approval to the order of dismissal.

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Page No.4 of 6

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https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis

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W.P.No.19107 of 2015

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This Court has held in umpteen number of cases that departmental proceedings and criminal proceedings are two different proceedings. Standard of proof required in these two proceedings are totally different. Eventhough, if delinquent can be acquitted in a criminal case, that acquittal would not bind the authorities in awarding punishment in departmental proceedings. Therefore, this Court does not find any perversity in the order passed by the Labour Court granting its approval.

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9. In the result the writ petition fails and the same is dismissed.

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However, considering the fact that the deceased petitioner had put in more than 20 years of service liberty is granted to the legal heirs to workout the remedy available for them in the manner known to law. No costs. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is closed.

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10. The period during which this petition was pending shall not be taken while computing the period of limitation.

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20.03.2025

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Index : Yes / No Speaking order / Non-speaking order Neutral Citation Case : Yes/No rap

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Page No.5 of 6

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W.P.No.19107 of 2015