Workmen of Gujarat Electricity Board, Baroda v. the Gujarat Electricity Board, Baroda
Industrial dispute – dearness allowance, gratuity and pension – capacity to pay
Case brief
What is this about?
Supreme Court of India, Civil Appeal No. 2431 of 1966, decided 19 December 1968 (Shelat, Bhargava and Vaidialingam JJ; judgment delivered by Bhargava J). Appeal by 466 workmen of the Gujarat Electricity Board, Baroda (Saurashtra Vidyut Kamdar Sangh) from the Industrial Tribunal, Gujarat award in Reference (IT) No. 88 of 1962 rejecting demands for higher dearness allowance, gratuity and pension recalculation. Held: capacity to pay is a relevant consideration once the claim exceeds the minimum wage; the inherited Rs. 2 crore deficit was a capital loss but the Board's Rs. 110 lakh losses in its first three years precluded an extra Rs. 49 lakhs per year; capacity must be assessed on all statutory activities under the Electricity (Supply) Act No. 54 of 1948, section 18; the Ahmedabad and Viramgam electric supply companies were not comparable concerns; remand refused; appeal dismissed, no order as to costs.