High Court dismissed multiple writ petitions filed by the State of Bihar and officials challenging the Labour Court's order awarding arrears of wages to Forest Department workers. The Court held that the State did not contest employment or rate of pay, and substantial justice warranted upholding the claims.
This page shows the compact analysis of this judgement. The full analysis — procedural history, issue-by-issue holdings with ratio and obiter, advocates, and paragraph-level evidence for every claim — is being added to the record in batches and will appear here when this judgement has been through it.
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.14409 of 2017
| 1. | ====================================================== The State of Bihar through the Range Officer, Environment & Forest Department, Khagaria. |
|---|---|
| 2. | The Range Officer, Environment and Forest Department, Khagaria. ... ... Petitioner/s Versus |
| 1. | Upendra Yadav Son of Late Chaudhary Yadav R/o Village - Balha, P.O. Balha, District - Khagaria. |
| 2. | The Labour Enforcement Officer, Khagaria. |
| 3. | The Presiding Officer, Labour Court, Begusarai. ... ... Respondent/s ====================================================== |
| with Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No. 14419 of 2017 ====================================================== |
|
| 1. | The State of Bihar through the Range Officer, Environment & Forest Department, Khagaria. |
| 2. | The Range Officer, Environment and Forest Department, Khagaria. ... ... Petitioner/s Versus |
| 1. | Sadanand Paswan Son of Shri Ramjee Paswan, resident of Village- Maheshkutt, P.O.- Maheshkutt, District- Khagaria. |
| 2. | The Labour Enforcement Officer, Khagaria. |
| 3. | The Presiding Officer, Labour Court, Begusarai. ... ... Respondent/s ====================================================== with Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No. 14427 of 2017 ====================================================== |
| 1. | The State of Bihar through the Range Officer, Environment & Forest Department, Khagaria. |
| 2. | The Range Officer, Environment and Forest Department, Khagaria. ... ... Petitioner/s Versus |
| 1. | Dasrath Yadav Son of Late Awadh Lal Yadav, resident of Village- Ekania, P.O. Mansi, District- Khagaria. |
| 2. | The Labour Enforcement Officer, Khagaria. |
| 3. | The Presiding Officer, Labour Court, Begusarai. |
Patna High Court CWJC No.14409 of 2017 dt.08-07-2019 2/13
... ... Respondent/s
| ====================================================== with Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No. 14432 of 2017 ====================================================== |
|
|---|---|
| 1. | The State of Bihar through the Range Officer, Environment & Forest Department, Khagaria. |
| 2. | The Range Officer, Environment and Forest Department, Khagaria. ... ... Petitioner/s Versus |
| 1. | Arun Paswan Son of Bhahujan Paswan, resident of Village- Rampur, P.O.- Allowli, District- Khagaria. |
| 2. | The Labour Enforcement Officer, Khagaria. |
| 3. | The Presiding Officer, Labour Court, Begusarai. ... ... Respondent/s ====================================================== with Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No. 14439 of 2017 ====================================================== |
| 1. | The State of Bihar through the Range Officer, Environment & Forest Department, Khagaria. |
| 2. | The Range Officer, Environment and Forest Department, Khagaria. ... ... Petitioner/s Versus |
| 1. | Gangadhar Yadav Son of Upendra Prasad Yadav, R/o Village- Balha, P.O.- Balha, District- Khagaria. |
| 2. | The Labour Enforcement Officer, Khagaria. |
| 3. | The Presiding Officer, Labour Court, Begusarai. ... ... Respondent/s ====================================================== with Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No. 14521 of 2017 ====================================================== |
| 1. | The State of Bihar through the Range Officer, Environment & Forest Department, Khagaria. |
| 2. | The Range Officer, Environment and Forest Department, Khagaria. ... ... Petitioner/s Versus |
| 1. | Kundan Yadav Son of Biro Yadav, resident of Village- Shaurba, P.O. Thutthi, District- Khagaria. |
Patna High Court CWJC No.14409 of 2017 dt.08-07-2019 3/13
| 2. | The Labour Enforcement Officer, Khagaria. |
|---|---|
| 3. | The Presiding Officer, Labour Court, Begusarai. ... ... Respondent/s ====================================================== with Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No. 14462 of 2017 ====================================================== |
| 1. | The State of Bihar through the Range Officer, Environment & Forest Department, Khagaria. |
| 2. | The Range Officer, Environment and Forest Department, Khagaria. ... ... Petitioner/s Versus |
| 1. | Prabhu Yadav Son of Bindreshwari Yadav, R/o Village- Tartar, P.O. Durgapur, District- Khagaria. |
| 2. | The Labour Enforcement Officer, Khagaria. |
| 3. | The Presiding Officer, Labour Court, Begusarai. ... ... Respondent/s ====================================================== with Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No. 14473 of 2017 ====================================================== |
| 1. | The State of Bihar through the Range Officer, Environment & Forest Department, Khagaria. |
| 2. | The Range Officer, Envieonment and Forest Department, Khagaria ... ... Petitioner/s Versus |
| 1. | Brahmdev Mandal Son of Sattu Mandal, R/o Village-Telia Bathaan, P.O.Solwara, District-Khagaria. |
| 2. | The Labour Enforcement Officer, Khagaria |
| 3. | The Presiding Officer, Labour Court, Begusarai ... ... Respondent/s ====================================================== with Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No. 14442 of 2017 ====================================================== |
| 1. | The State of Bihar through the Range Officer, Environment & Forest Department, Khagaria. |
| 2. | The Range Officer, Environment and Forest Department, Khagaria. ... ... Petitioner/s Versus |
Patna High Court CWJC No.14409 of 2017 dt.08-07-2019 4/13
====================================================== with
Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No. 14516 of 2017
======================================================
Versus
====================================================== with
Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No. 14551 of 2017
======================================================
Versus
====================================================== with
Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No. 14464 of 2017
======================================================
Patna High Court CWJC No.14409 of 2017 dt.08-07-2019 5/13
Patna High Court CWJC No.14409 of 2017 dt.08-07-2019 6/13
Patna High Court CWJC No.14409 of 2017 dt.08-07-2019 7/13
======================================================
... ... Respondent/s
Versus
... ... Respondent/s
====================================================== with Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No. 14413 of 2017
Patna High Court CWJC No.14409 of 2017 dt.08-07-2019 8/13
... ... Petitioner/s
... ... Respondent/s
| ===================== Appearance : (In Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case |
================================= No. 14409 of 2017) |
|---|---|
| For the Petitioner/s : |
Mr. Sarvesh Kumar Singh, AAG13 Mr. Shakib Ayaz, AC to AAG13 |
| For the Respondent/s : |
Mr.Bishweshwar Ram, Adv. |
| (In Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case |
No. 14419 of 2017) |
| For the Petitioner/s : |
Mr.Lokesh Kumar Singh |
| For the Respondent/s : |
Mr.Bishweshwar Ram |
(In Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case |
No. 14427 of 2017) |
| For the Petitioner/s : |
Mr.Lokesh Kumar Singh |
| For the Respondent/s : |
Mr.Bishweshwar Ram |
(In Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case |
No. 14432 of 2017) |
| For the Petitioner/s : |
Mr.Lokesh Kumar Singh |
| For the Respondent/s : |
Mr.Bishweshwar Ram |
| (In Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case |
No. 14439 of 2017) |
| For the Petitioner/s : |
Mr.Lokesh Kumar Singh |
| For the Respondent/s : |
Mr.Bishweshwar Ram |
(In Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case |
No. 14521 of 2017) |
| For the Petitioner/s : |
Mr.Tej Pratap Singh |
| For the Respondent/s : |
Mr.Bishweshwar Ram |
| (In Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case | No. 14462 of 2017) |
| For the Petitioner/s : |
Mr.Sunita Kumari |
| For the Respondent/s : |
Mr.Bishweshwar Ram |
| (In Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case |
No. 14473 of 2017) |
| For the Petitioner/s : |
Mr.Tej Pratap Singh |
| For the Respondent/s : |
Mr.Bishweshwar Ram |
(In Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case |
No. 14442 of 2017) |
| For the Petitioner/s : |
Mr.Tej Pratap Singh |
| For the Respondent/s : |
Mr.Bishweshwar Ram |
| (In Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case | No. 14516 of 2017) |
| For the Petitioner/s : |
Mr.Sunita Kumari |
| For the Respondent/s : |
Mr.Bishweshwar Ram |
| (In Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case | No. 14551 of 2017) |
For the Petitioner/s : |
Mr.Sunita Kumari |
| For the Respondent/s : |
Mr.Bishweshwar Ram |
(In Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case |
No. 14464 of 2017) |
| For the Petitioner/s : |
Mr.Sunita Kumari |
| For the Respondent/s : |
Mr.Bishweshwar Ram |
| (In Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case For the Petitioner/s : |
No. 14410 of 2017) Mr.Ravi Kumar |
Patna High Court CWJC No.14409 of 2017 dt.08-07-2019 9/13
For the Respondent/s : Mr.Bishweshwar Ram (In Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No. 14417 of 2017) For the Petitioner/s : Mr.Ravi Kumar For the Respondent/s : Mr.Bishweshwar Ram (In Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No. 14474 of 2017) For the Petitioner/s : Mr.Sunita Kumari For the Respondent/s : Mr.Bishweshwar Ram (In Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No. 14819 of 2017) For the Petitioner/s : Mr.Tej Pratap Singh For the Respondent/s : Mr.Bishweshwar Ram (In Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No. 14498 of 2017) For the Petitioner/s : Mr.Tej Pratap Singh For the Respondent/s : Mr.Bishweshwar Ram (In Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No. 14576 of 2017) For the Petitioner/s : Mr.Ravi Kumar For the Respondent/s : Mr.Bishweshwar Ram (In Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No. 14443 of 2017) For the Petitioner/s : Mr.Tej Pratap Singh For the Respondent/s : Mr.Bishweshwar Ram (In Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No. 15200 of 2017) For the Petitioner/s : Mr.Ravi Kumar Ac To Aag 13 For the Respondent/s : Mr.Bishweshwar Ram (In Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No. 14413 of 2017) For the Petitioner/s : Mr.Ravi Kumar For the Respondent/s : Mr.Bishweshwar Ram ======================================================
CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE SHIVAJI PANDEY ORAL JUDGMENT
Date : 08-07-2019
Heard learned counsel for the parties.
All the cases, being identical in nature, are disposed of by this common order.
In all the cases, the private respondents have claimed the payment of arrear of wages and the authority has directed for payment of arrear of salary and has granted compensation of Rs. 25/- to each of the worker. The court below has also clubbed together all such cases and disposed of all the cases being P.W. (Payment of Wages) Case No. 1 to 43/1996 by a common order.
Altogether 43 persons have filed their respective claims for the payment of arrear of wages having claimed that they were
Patna High Court CWJC No.14409 of 2017 dt.08-07-2019 10/13
working in the Fores Department but, the salary has not been paid to them. It will be relevant to quote the claim of each of the worker
which is as follows:-
| Sl. No. |
Case No. | Name of Parties | Name of Respondent (Labour |
Lower Court Case No. |
Period of work (As alleged) |
Post of work (As alleged) |
Rate of payme @ per day |
nt Amount of Payment (Rs.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CWJC No. 14409/2017 |
The State of Bihar & Anr. Vs. Upendra Yadav & Ors. |
Upendra Yadav |
28/96 | 01.10.1994 to 30.06.1995 (270 days) |
----------- | Rs. 30.50 (270X30.50) |
Rs. 8235/- |
| 2 | CWJC No. 14410/2017 |
The State of Bihar & Anr. Vs. Jagdish Yadav & Ors. |
Jagdish Yadav |
04/96 | 01.10.1994 to 30.06.1995 (270 days) |
Animal saver / Protector |
Rs. 30.50 (270X30.50) |
Rs. 8235/- |
| 3 | CWJC No. 14413/2017 |
The State of Bihar & Anr. Vs. Nunu Lal Paswan & Ors. |
Nunu Lal Paswan |
32/96 | 01.10.1994 to 30.06.1995 (270 days) |
------------ | Rs. 30.50 (270X30.50) |
Rs. 8235/- |
| 4 | CWJC No. 14417/2017 |
The State of Bihar & Anr. Vs. Lal Paswan @ Shri Lal Paswan & Ors. & Ors. |
Lal Paswan @ Shri Lal Paswan |
06/96 | 01.10.1994 to 30.06.1995 (270 days) |
Gardener (Maali) |
Rs. 30.50 (270X30.50) |
Rs. 8235/- |
| 5 | CWJC No. 14419/2017 |
The State of Bihar & Anr. Vs. Sadanand Paswan & Ors. |
Sadanand Paswan |
31/96 | 01.10.1994 to 30.06.1995 (270 days) |
---------- | Rs. 30.50 (270X30.50) |
Rs. 8235/- |
| 6 | CWJC No. 14427/2017 |
The State of Bihar & Anr. Vs. Dasrath Yadav & Ors. |
Dasrath Yadav |
10/96 | 01.10.1994 to 30.06.1995 (270 days) |
------------ | Rs. 30.50 (270X30.50) |
Rs. 8235/- |
| 7 | CWJC No. 14432/2017 |
The State of Bihar & Anr. Vs. Arun Paswan & Ors. |
Arun Paswan | 20/96 | 01.10.1994 to 30.06.1995 (270 days) |
------------ | Rs. 30.50 (270X30.50) |
Rs. 8235/- |
| 8 | CWJC No. 14439/2017 |
The State of Bihar & Anr. Vs. Gangadhar Yadav & Ors. |
Gangadhar Yadav |
17/96 | 01.10.1994 to 30.06.1995 (270 days) |
------------ | Rs. 30.50 (270X30.50) |
Rs. 8235/- |
| 9 | CWJC No. 14442/2017 |
The State of Bihar & Anr. Vs. Chakradhar Mahto & Ors. |
Chakradhar Mahto |
16/96 | 01.10.1994 to 30.06.1995 (270 days) |
------------ | Rs. 30.50 (270X30.50) |
Rs. 8235/- |
| 10 | CWJC No. 14443/2017 |
The State of Bihar & Anr. Vs. Hasan Imam & Ors. |
Hasan Imam | 15/96 | 01.10.1994 to 30.06.1995 (270 days) |
------------ | Rs. 30.50 (270X30.50) |
Rs. 8235/- |
| 11 | CWJC No. 14462/2017 |
The State of Bihar & Anr. Vs. Prabhu Yadav & Ors. |
Prabhu Yadav |
22/96 | 01.10.1994 to 30.06.1995 (270 days) |
------------ | Rs. 30.50 (270X30.50) |
Rs. 8235/- |
| 12 | CWJC No. 14464/2017 |
The State of Bihar & Anr. Vs. Nilesh Kumar & Ors. |
Nilesh Kumar |
21/96 | 01.10.1994 to 30.06.1995 (270 days) |
------------ | Rs. 30.50 (270X30.50) |
Rs. 8235/- |
| 13 | CWJC No. 14473/2017 |
The State of Bihar & Anr. Vs. Brahmdev Mandal & Ors. |
Brahmdev Mandal |
24/96 | 01.10.1994 to 30.06.1995 (270 days) |
------------ | Rs. 30.50 (270X30.50) |
Rs. 8235/- |
| 14 | CWJC No. 14474/2017 |
The State of Bihar & Anr. Vs. Dhaneshwar Mandal & Ors. |
Dhaneshwar Mandal |
11/96 | 01.10.1994 to 30.06.1995 (270 days) |
------------ | Rs. 30.50 (270X30.50) |
Rs. 8235/- |
| 15 | CWJC No. 14498/2017 |
The State of Bihar & Anr. Vs. Ramchandra Sah & Ors. |
Ramchandra Sah |
02/96 | 01.10.1994 to 30.06.1995 (270 days) |
------------ | Rs. 30.50 (270X30.50) |
Rs. 8235/- |
Patna High Court CWJC No.14409 of 2017 dt.08-07-2019
11/13
| 16 | CWJC No. 14516/2017 |
The State of Bihar & Anr. Vs. Anil Kumar Mandal & Ors. |
Anil Kumar Mandal |
03/96 | 01.10.1994 to 30.06.1995 (270 days) |
Security Guard |
Rs. 30.50 (270X30.50) |
Rs. 8235/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 | CWJC No. 14521/2017 |
The State of Bihar & Anr. Vs. Kundan Yadav & Ors. |
Kundan Yadav |
38/96 | 01.10.1994 to 30.06.1995 (450 days) |
------------ | Rs. 30.50 (450X30.50) Rs. 13,725 |
Rs. 8235/- requested for payment |
| 18 | CWJC No. 14551/2017 |
The State of Bihar & Anr. Vs. Bhupdev Paswan &@ Bhudeo Yadav & Ors. |
Bhupdev Paswan &@ Bhudeo Yadav |
39/96 | 01.10.1994 to 30.06.1995 (270 days) |
------------ | Rs. 30.50 (450X30.50) Rs. 13,725 |
Rs. 8235/- requested for payment |
| 19 | CWJC No. 14576/2017 |
The State of Bihar & Anr. Vs. Ranjeet Yadav & Ors. |
Ranjeet Yadav |
37/96 | Period not mentioned |
------------ | Rs. 30.50 (270X30.50) |
Rs. 8235/- requested for payment |
| 20 | CWJC No. 14819/2017 |
The State of Bihar & Anr. Vs.Smt. Shilo Devi & Ors. |
Smt. Shilo Devi |
07/96 | 01.10.1994 to 30.06.1995 (270 days) |
------------ | Rs. 30.50 (270X30.50) |
Rs. 8235/- |
| 21 | CWJC No. 15200/2017 |
The State of Bihar & Anr. Vs. Ashok Mandal & Ors. |
Ashok Mandal |
36/96 | 01.08.1994 to 30.06.1995 (330 days) |
Animal saver / Protector |
Rs. 30.50 (330X30.50) Rs. 10,065 |
Rs. 8235/- requested for payment |
| Total | Rs. 1,72,935/- |
(Total comes to Rs. One Lakh Seventy Two Thousand Nine Hundred and Thirty Five Only)
The aforesaid claim is in tabular form and arrear amount
has been mentioned therein save and except Rs. 25/- to be added with the amount as has been mentioned against each worker and the Court, after discussion, allowed claims of certain worker and also rejected the claim of some of workers, which are as follows:-
^^bl izdkj bu nkok i=ksa dh flf) ugha gks ldh gSA vr% nkok i= la[;k 1/96, 5/96, 9/96, 12/96, 13/96, 14/96, 18/96, 23/96, 25/96, 26/96, 27/96, 33/96, 34/96, 41/96 ,oa 42/96, [kkfjt fd;s tkus ;ksX; gSA**
The claim of P.W. Case No. 1/96, 5/96, 9/96, 12/96, 13/96, 14/96, 18/96, 23/96, 25/96, 26/96, 27/96, 33/96, 34/96, 41/96 and 42/96 have been rejected by the Labour Court as they failed to substantiate their respective claim.
Patna High Court CWJC No.14409 of 2017 dt.08-07-2019 12/13
It appears from the order that the notice of the case was not sent to Forest Department but, the Forest Department did not take any step, ultimately, the Court passed the ex-parte order.
The cases of workers were pursued. The Labour Enforcement Officer, respondents workers came to dock and asserted their respective claim which has not been contradicted by the petitioner. Even in the writ application, nowhere the State has disputed the employment of respondents whose cases have been allowed and they have claimed salary as per minimum rate of wages fixed by the State of Bihar.
In that view of the matter, when a substantial justice has been given in connection with payment of salary to the workman, even if some error is there, that has to be ignored. Reliance in this connection may be made to the judgment passed in the case of A.M. Allison & H.P. Brigg. Vs. B.L. Sen & Ors. reported in AIR 1957 SC 227, para-17, Om Prakash Goel Vs. Committee of Management, Kunwar R. C. Mahila Degree College, Mainpuri Vs. Vice Chancellor, Agra University & Anr. reported in 1991 LIC 1493, in the case of Krishna Chandra Pallai Vs. Union of India & Anr. reported in 1992 LIC 2023 and in the case of Chandra Singh & Ors. Vs. State of Rajasthan & Anr. reported in 2003 (6) SCC 545 para-43.
Patna High Court CWJC No.14409 of 2017 dt.08-07-2019 13/13
Accordingly, this Court does not find any merit in all these writ applications and the same are dismissed without any
cost.
(Shivaji Pandey, J)
rishi/-
| AFR/NAFR | NAFR |
|---|---|
| CAV DATE | NA |
| Uploading Date | 16.07.2019 |
| Transmission Date |
3 issues framed by the court
Whether the claim for arrears of wages by workers working in the Forest Department should be allowed when the employment was not contested by the State.
Whether the error in the lower court's order of issuing ex-parte orders against the State can be ignored to give substantial justice to workmen.
Whether the present writ petitions filed by the State and its functionaries seeking reversal of the lower court's order regarding payment of wages have merit.
Colour shows how this judgement treated each authority
A.M. Allison & H.P. Brigg. Vs. B.L. Sen & Ors.Referred¶145
AIR 1957 SC 227 · Who else cites this
Vice Chancellor, Agra University & Anr. vs. Om Prakash GoelReferred¶145
1992 LIC 2023
Krishna Chandra Pallai Vs. Union of India & Anr.Referred¶145
2003 (6) SCC 545 · Who else cites this
Chandra Singh & Ors. Vs. State of Rajasthan & Anr.Referred¶145
2003 (6) SCC 545 · Who else cites this
The State of Bihar through the Range Officer, Environment & Forest Department, Khagaria
Upendra Yadav
The Labour Enforcement Officer, Khagaria
The Presiding Officer, Labour Court, Begusarai
Shivaji Pandey
As recorded by the court registry
Judgements on the same questions, provisions and authorities, from every court
