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PETITIONER: D.K. CHHANGANI & ORS.

       Vs.

RESPONDENT: NITYA RANJAN MUKHERJEE & ORS.

DATE OF JUDGMENT:       17/09/1996

BENCH: K. RAMASWAMY, G.B. PATTANAIK

ACT:

HEADNOTE:

JUDGMENT:                          O R D E R      This appeal  by special  leave arises from the order of the Calcutta  High Court  made on  September  14,  1979  and December 17, 1979 in Civil Rule No. 13393 (W).      The claims relate to the recognition to the rival union of Geological  Survey of  India Employees’  Association. The controversy is  : as  to whether the Calcutta High Court has jurisdiction over  the adjudication  made by  the Industrial Tribunal in  Maharashtra on  the   rival  questions  of  the membership and recognition of an association based thereon ? It is  not necessary  to go  into the question, though it is not necessary  to go into the question, though it is open to grave and    grim  jurisdictional  fault  for  two  reasons. Firstly, since elections were held on September 12, 1975 and more than  two decades  have passed  by since then, it is no longer a  live issue. Moreover, the President exercising the power under  Proviso to  Article 309 of the Constitution and clause (5)  of Article  148,  after  consultation  with  the Comptroller and Auditor General, had issued rules called the Central Civil Services (Recognition of Service Associations) Rules, 1993  which came  into force w.e.f. November 5, 1993. Rule 4  deals with Service Associations registered or yet to be registered.  They are  required to  make  an  application under  Section  3.  Clause  (5)  prescribes  conditions  for recognition of a Service Association and provides as under :      "5. Conditions  for recognition  of      Service Associations  :  A  Service      Association  which   fulfills   the      following   conditions    may    be      recognised   by   the   Government,      namely :-      (a) An  application for recognition      of  Service  Association  has  been      made to  the Government  containing      Memorandum     of      Association,      Constitution,   Bye-laws   of   the      Association,   Names   of   Office-      Bearers, total  membership and  any      other   information   as   may   be      required by the Government.

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    (b)  the  Service  Association  has      been formed  primarily  with    the      object  of   promoting  the  common      service interest of its members;      (c)  membership   of  the   Service      Association has  been restricted to      a distinct  category of  Government      servants having common interest all      such  Government   servants   being      eligible  for   membership  of  the      Service Association.      (d) (i)  The Association represents      minimum 35 per cent of total number      of a category of employees provided      that  where   there  is   only  one      Association  with   second  highest      membership, although  less than  35      per cent  may be  recognised if  it      commands  at   least  15  per  cent      membership;      (ii) The  membership of  Government      servant  shall   be   automatically      discontinued  on   his  ceasing  to      belong to such category;      (e) Government  employee who are in      service shall  be members of office      bearers of the Service Association;      (f) the  Service Association  shall      not  be  formed  to  represent  the      interests, or  on the  basis of any      caste,    tribe     or    religious      denomination or of any group within      or Section  of such caste, tribe or      religious denomination;      (h)   the    lands    of    Service      Association consists exclusively of      subscriptions  from   members   and      grants,  if   any,  made   by   the      Government, and  are  applied  only      for the  furtherance of the objects      of the Service Association."      Rule  6   deals  with   conditions  subject   to  which recognition is  continued to  the Associations  and  Rule  7 gives power for verification of the membership. Rule 8 deals with withdrawal  of recognition.  Rule 9  gives power to the Government for relaxation. Rule 10 relates to interpretation of the Rules.      It would, thus, be seen that if there are more than one rival unions  of the  Service employees,  the Government  of India  have   evolved  a   policy  as  to  how  the  Service Associations required  to be  recognised by  the appropriate authority should  represent the  interest of  the members of the respective unions. In this view, it would be open to the appropriate union to approach the Government in the light of the  above rules and seek recognition in accordance with law to avoid any future litigation in this behalf.      The appeal is accordingly disposed of.      No costs.