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PETITIONER: RASHTRIYA CHATURTH SHRENI RAILWAYMAJDOOR CONGRESS(INTUC)

       Vs.

RESPONDENT: UNION OF INDIA  & ORS.

DATE OF JUDGMENT:       01/10/1997

BENCH: A.S. ANAND, K. VENKATASWAMI

ACT:

HEADNOTE:

JUDGMENT:                       J U D G M E N T K. Venkataswami. J.      Leave granted.      Heard counsel for the parties.      Aggrieved by  the order  of the  Central Administrative Tribunal  (hereinafter  called  the  "Tribunal"),  Allahabad Bench, dated January 8, 1996 in O.A.No. 1361/95. the present appeal is filed.      In the  view we propose to take, it is not necessary to set out  in detail  the facts  leading to  the filing of the said O.A. before the Tribunal.      The appellant union moved the Tribunal for regularising the services  of its  members, on  the ground that they have been engaged  as contract  labourers for several years doing the job  of parcel porters at Agra Fort (Railway Station) in the  light  of  the  judgment  of  this  Court  in  National Federation of Railway porters, Vendors and Bearers vs. Union of India & ors. (1995 (supp) 3 SCC 152.      According to  the appellant,  the said judgment of this Court was  rendered more or less in identical circumstances. The Tribunal,  unfortunately,  instead  of  going  into  the matter and  deciding the issue raised before it, declined to entertain the  O.A. on  the ground  that the  union  has  an alternative remedy available to it.      The question  that was to be decided by the Tribunal in the  light  of  the  judgment  of  this  Court  in  National Federation of Railway Porters’ case (supra) was which is the ’appropriate  Government’   to  decide   the   question   of regularisation of  the workers  to apply  the principle laid down  by  this  Court  in  National  Federation  of  Railway Porters, Vendors  and Bearers vs. Union of India & ors. 1995 (Supp) 3  SCC 152.  In the  facts and  circumstances of this Case and  having regard  to the  fact that  the interests of labourers  are   involved,  we  think  it  would  have  been appropriate for  the Tribunal  to decide the question itself instead of  directing the  union to  avail  the  alternative remedy. Accordingly, we  set aside the order of the Tribunal in O.A. No. 1361/95  and direct  it to  decide the  issue itself  on merits   in the  light of  the principles  laid down by this

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Court in  the judgment  in National  Federation  of  Railway Porters, Vendors  and Bearers vs. Union of India & Ors. 1995 (Supp) 3 SCC 152.      The parties are at liberty to raise all the contentions available to  them in law before the Tribunal. The appeal is accordingly allowed. No costs.