IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
PRESENT
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE AMIT RAWAL
FRIDAY, THE 17TH DAY OF JUNE 2022 / 27TH JYAISHTA, 1944
WP(C) NO. 25860 OF 2021
PETITIONER:
T.P.TILES CENTRE,
NEAR MUNICIPAL OFFICE, KALPETTA POST, WAYANAD 673 121
REPRESENTED BY THE MANAGING PARTNER, C. ABUBACKER,
S/O. MAMMAD, AGED 59 YEARS, CHENAKKAL HOUSE,
KALLUVAYAL, SULTHAN BATHERY, WAYANAD 673 592
BY ADVS.
V.SHYAM
P.ARUN
SAHEERA K.
RESPONDENTS:
1 THE DISTRICT LABOUR OFFICER,
CIVIL STATION, WAYANAD 673 122.
2 THE ASSISTANT LABOUR OFFICER,
KALPETTA, WAYANAD 673 121.
3 KERALA HEAD LOAD WORKERS WELFARE FUND BOARD,
REPRESENTED BY EXECUTIVE OFFICER, WAYANAD DISTRICT
COMMITTEE, PALAKUNNUMMAL BUILDING, ANAPALAM JUNCTION,
MUNDERI ROAD, KALPETTA, WAYANAD 673 121
*ADDL.4 SIDDIQUE AKBAR
S/O AKBAR, AGED 28 YEARS, CONVENER CITU,
(KALPETTA, WAYANAD), RESIDING AT PUTHAN PURAKKAL HOUSE,
KALPETTA P.O., WAYANAD.
*ADDL.5 M.J.PATMARAJAN
S/O.A.V.JAGANATHAN, AGED 47 YEARS, CONVENER, AITUC
(KALPETTA, WAYANAD) RESIDING AT AMBALYVADAKEKUDY HOUSE,
EDAZHUNI, PAZHAMUDI P.O., WAYANAD.
*ADDL.6 SAITHALVI ODUVIL,
S/O MUHAMMED, AGED 54 YEARS, STU (KALPETTA, WAYANAD)
GUSALAYIKUNNU, KALPETTA P.O., WAYANAD.
*ADDL.7 ASHRAF.M.K.
S/O.UNNYALI, AGED 44 YEARS, INTUC (KALPETTA, WAYANAD),
WP(C) Nos.25860/2021, 8909/2022
-2-
MANJAMBRA HOUSE, KALPETTA P.O., WAYANAD.
(*ADDITIONAL R4 TO R7 IMPLEADED AS PER ORDER
DATED 07.01.2022 IN I.A.NO.1 OF 2021 IN W.P.(C)
NO.25860/2021)
BY ADVS.
SRI.JUSTIN JACOB, SR.GP.
SRI.THOMAS ABRAHAM
SRI.ANIL K.NAIR
SRI.GEORGE J.NALAPPAT
THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR
ADMISSION ON 25.05.2022, ALONG WITH WP(C).8909/2022, THE
COURT ON 17.06.2022 DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:
WP(C) Nos.25860/2021, 8909/2022
-3-
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
PRESENT
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE AMIT RAWAL
FRIDAY, THE 17TH DAY OF JUNE 2022 / 27TH JYAISHTA, 1944
WP(C) NO. 8909 OF 2022
PETITIONERS:
1 SIDDIQUE AKBAR,
AGED 28 YEARS,
S/O. AKBAR, RESIDING AT PUTHAN PURAKKAL HOUSE,
KALPETTA P. O., WAYANAD - 673121.
2 M. J. PATMARAJAN,
AGED 47 YEARS,
S/O. A. V. JAGANATHAN,
RESIDING AT AMBALYVADAKEKUDY HOUSE,
EDAZHUNI, PUZHAMUDI P. O., WAYANAD - 673121.
3 SAITHALVI ODUVIL,
AGED 54 YEARS,
S/O. MUHAMMED, GUSALAYIKUNNU,
KALPETTA P. O., WAYANAD - 673121.
4 ASHRAF M. K.,
AGED 44 YEARS,
S/O. UNNYALI, MANJAMBRA HOUSE,
KALPETTA P. O., WAYANAD - 673121.
BY ADVS.
SRI.ANIL K.NAIR
SRI.ASWIN.P.JOHN
SRI.PAUL BABY
RESPONDENTS:
1 STATE OF KERALA,
REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY,
DEPARTMENT OF LABOUR AND SKILLS,
GOVERNMENT OF KERALA, SECRETARIAT,
WP(C) Nos.25860/2021, 8909/2022
-4-
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - 695 001.
2 LABOUR COMMISSIONER, KERALA,
THOZIL BHAVAN, VIKAS BHAVAN, PMG,
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - 695 033.
3 THE DISTRICT LABOUR OFFICER,
CIVIL STATION, WAYANAD - 673122.
4 THE ASSISTANT LABOUR OFFICER,
KALPETTA, WAYANAD - 673121 (INSPECTOR UNDER THE
KERALA SHOPS AND COMMERCIAL ESTABLISHMENTS ACT,
1960)
BY ADV
SRI.JUSTIN JACOB, SR.GP.
THOMAS ABRAHAM
THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR
ADMISSION ON 25.05.2022, ALONG WITH WP(C).25860/2021, THE
COURT ON 17.06.2022 DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:
WP(C) Nos.25860/2021, 8909/2022
-5-
JUDGMENT
[WP(C) Nos.25860/2021, 8909/2022] This order of mine shall dispose of two writ petitions; W.P(C).25860 of 2021 preferred by the establishment against the orders dated 05.07.2021 of the Assistant Labour Officer and dated 03.11.2021 of the District Labour Officer rejecting the application for registering the employees as headload workers under the Kerala Headload Workers Act and the Rules framed thereunder (hereinafter referred to as 'first writ petition') and W.P(C).No.8909 of 2021 titled as Sri.Siddique Akbar and others Vs.State of Kerala wherein writ in the nature of mandamus has been sought for issuing directions to the 4th respondent Assistant Labour Officer to take a call on the representation dated 01.03.2022 submitted by the petitioners to verify and register the records maintained under Kerala Shops and Commercial Establishment Act for the purpose of ascertaining whether the person on whose behalf the applications for registration under Rule WP(C) Nos.25860/2021, 8909/2022 -6- 26A of the Rules were included in the register of the workers or not (hereinafter referred to as 'second writ petition').
2. First writ petitioner is claiming to be a partnership firm dealing in tiles, sanitary wares, hardwares, bathroom fittings, plumbing etc., in Kalpatta, Wynad district. It has a showroom situated near Water Authority, Kalpatta, three godowns and one branch within the radiance of 1.5 kilometers. For carrying out the aforementioned had already been issued a trade licence by the Municipality on 09.06.2021 Ext.P2 and registration under the Kerala Shops and Commercial Establishment Act had also been obtained as evident from Ext.P3 requiring the service of skilled and trained head load workers for the purpose of carrying out loading and unloading work in the main showroom and also in the branch/three godowns. Skilled labours were appointed for the said purpose as it had been dealing with costly marbles, vitrified and ceramic tiles. An WP(C) Nos.25860/2021, 8909/2022 -7- application for registration of fifteen (15) headload workers, exclusively for such purpose, under Rule 26A of the Kerala Headload Workers Rules (hereinafter referred to as 'the Rules' for short) was submitted. The area under which the showroom was situated falls under the scheme promulgated under Section 13 of the Act as evident from the application Exts.P5 and P19.
3. Learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner submitted that the Labour Officer dismissed the application vide impugned order dated 05.07.2021 in a most mechanical and sketchy manner and appeal taken before the Appellate Authority i.e., District Labour Officer had also resulted into dismissal on the ground that in case the persons who sought to be registered for the purpose of unloading and loading having a particular skill would take away the right of livelihood of other head load workers already registered under the Act in view of the existence of the scheme. The said orders are liable to be set aside as the said decision is against the dictum WP(C) Nos.25860/2021, 8909/2022 -8- of various judgments and also Article 19(1)(g) of the Constitution of India. The prime reason assigned by the District Labour Officer was that in case of allowing the application, the Welfare Fund Board would not be able to collect contributions and would adversely be affected. Once the objections were filed by the Welfare Board, the authority was enjoined upon obligation to register the head load workers by issuing the Registration Certificate, even if the workers had been discharging the duties higher than what they were entitled into. It is owing to the pandemic certain kind of duties which were in existence have been truncated by the establishment in order to sustain, such applications were filed since they had the skill and knowledge of handling the particular material which petitioners' firm was dealing with. The impugned orders are against the decision of the Division Bench of this Court in 2016 (5) KHC 238 Ganngadharan C.P. and another Vs. Abdul Naseer and others. Impleadment of the local head load workers an WP(C) Nos.25860/2021, 8909/2022 -9- opposition would reveal that it is a clear cut case of violation of Article 19 (1)(g) of the Constitution of India.
4. Mr.Thomas Ibrahim, learned counsel representing the Welfare Board supported the impugned orders on the ground that the registered pool workers would sustain considerable loss.
5. The loading and unloading works of the establishment is being done by registered pool workers. There are about thirty nine(39) pool workers in the Gudalai area which is a scheme covered area and issuance of registration to the employees of the petitioner would affect the livelihood of registered pool workers and de-stabilize the system envisaged in the statutory scheme. The establishment was required to be registered under the Kerala Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, 1960 for the purpose of filing the objection and inspection was carried out by the officers of the Board but the petitioner refused to provide records WP(C) Nos.25860/2021, 8909/2022 -10- evidencing the list of employees. The officers intended to meet fifteen (15) employees who have submitted application for issuance of the card under Rule 26A, seven (7) were present but it was found that they were not doing head load works. In fact three of them were sales executives and four were salesmen. The non- availability of the other applicants had also not been satisfactorily replied with. As per the additional affidavit placed on record, it was found that the management had paid only a paltry amount of cess under the Head load workers Act meaning by they are indulging into exploitation of the workers.
6. Learned counsel representing the already registered headload workers countered the arguments for placing the reliance on Ext.R4(f) whereby seven (7) applicants were discharging duties of salesmen. They could not be permitted to be registered as headload workers, a job lower than what they would be discharging and they were required to be registered WP(C) Nos.25860/2021, 8909/2022 -11- under the Shops and Commercial Establishment Act. It is in that background representation was submitted but in the absence of any decision thereon compelled to approach this Court vide the second writ petition.
7. I have heard learned counsel for the parties and appraised the paper books.
8. Section 13 of the Kerala Head load Workers Act, 1978 empowers the promulgation of the scheme which has been defined as Kerala Head load Workers (Regulation of Employment and Welfare) Scheme, 1983 dealing with the registration, obligation and welfare of the head load workers, the employers, conditions of service of registered head load workers, constitution of the committee and finance of the committee. In the absence of the registration as headload workers no headload worker under the provisions of the rule shall be required or allowed to work in any area where the scheme is applicable. Rule 26A of the Rules empowers WP(C) Nos.25860/2021, 8909/2022 -12- the registering authority to receive an application for registration under Form IX with additional copies of employers and contractors and on receipt of the application, the authority is required to issue notice in Form X to the employees of the contractors from whom the headload worker claims work and the area where the scheme is in operation, the Chairman, Kerala Head load Workers Welfare Board, Local Committee and after considering the objection and opportunity of hearing, registering authorities shall register the name of head load workers in the Register of headload workers and shall issue identity cards in Form XI. Cancellation of the registration is also permissible under Sub-rule 4 of Rule 26A.
9. The Board and the registered workers vigorously argued in support the impugned decision as it is a ploy by the management in scouting the employees already discharging duties of sales executive and salesmen by registering them as headload workers which WP(C) Nos.25860/2021, 8909/2022 -13- would not only demeaning but glorying the discharge of the duties and take away the valuable right of already existed workers. The chances to earn the livelihood considerably reduced is not acceptable for the reason that it is against the framework of provisions of Article 19 of the Constitution of India.
10. Rule 26A empowers the registering authorities to register the headload worker after examination of the objection and cancellation of registration. An attempt was made by the respondents to cite judgment of Division Bench of this Court in Suresh Kumar R. and others Vs. State of Kerala in Writ Appeal No.1151 of 2019. The question involved in the cited case was whether the affected registered workers in a scheme would have a right to assail the order in an appeal viz. registration of the Head load workers affecting their rights. The Division Bench of this Court in Gangadharan supra has laid down that whenever the employer seeks the registration of its own workers WP(C) Nos.25860/2021, 8909/2022 -14- though the objection can be raised by the existing unattached registered workers, but every person has a fundamental right to live by doing works of his choice and therefore registration cannot be denied merely for the reason that other registered unattached workers in the area would be deprived of work. The authorities have to be akin to the scheme of the statute without compromising fundamental principle of equality before law. Employer can engage sufficient number of employees of his choice and registering authority is obliged to give registration to such attached workers and it is always open for the employer to make appropriate arrangements by engaging workers of his choice to do the loading and unloading operations.
11. Even if the workers are registered as salesmen and discharging duties of sales executives there is no estoppel and bar for them to do the job of loading and unloading as the pandemic has made society to live a simple and hardworking life as number of the jobs WP(C) Nos.25860/2021, 8909/2022 -15- available have been abolished by the management to mete out the day to day expenses. This cannot be an estoppel for an employee or an employer for submitting the application for registration under Rule 26A of the Rules.
12. Reasoning of the impugned order of the Assistant Labour Officer and District Labour Officer is that it would take away the valuable right of the already unattached workers registered under the Act in the area falling under the scheme, in my view is wholly against the dictum of the law referred supra. For the reason aforementioned the impugned orders dated 05.07.2021 and 03.11.2021 are quashed. W.P(C).25860/21 is allowed.
As far as the second writ petition is concerned respondents have sought direction to dispose of the representations submitted to Assistant Labour Officer on behalf of T.P.Tiles Centre for conducting the inspection WP(C) Nos.25860/2021, 8909/2022 -16- of the establishment, verify the register/records, which, in my view, would not sustain as by way of additional affidavit, the entire material has already been placed on record and referred to in discharge the duties. W.P(C).8909/22 is dismissed.
Sd/-
AMIT RAWAL JUDGE vv WP(C) Nos.25860/2021, 8909/2022 -17- APPENDIX OF WP(C) 8909/2022 PETITIONER EXHIBITS Exhibit P1 THE TRUE COPY OF THE REPRESENTATION DATED 01.03.2022 SUBMITTED BY THE PETITIONERS BEFORE THE 4TH RESPONDENT. WP(C) Nos.25860/2021, 8909/2022 -18- APPENDIX OF WP(C) 25860/2021 PETITIONER EXHIBITS Exhibit P1 COPY OF THE PARTNERSHIP DEED OF THE PETITIONER FIRM DATED 1-4-2013 Exhibit P2 COPY OF THE TRADE LICENCE ISSUED BY THE KALPETTA MUNICIPALITY TO THE PETITIONER DATED 9-06-2021 Exhibit P3 COPY OF THE REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE ISSUED BY THE 2ND RESPONDENT DATED 3- 2-2016 Exhibit P4 COPY OF THE REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DATED 21-09-2017 Exhibit P5 COPY OF THE APPLICATION SUBMITTED BY THE PETITIONER'S WORKER M.D SITARE DATED 3-4-2021 BEFORE THE 1ST RESPONDENT Exhibit P6 COPY OF THE APPLICATION SUBMITTED BY THE PETITIONER'S WORKER BHASHEER A.K DATED 3-4-2021 BEFORE THE 1ST RESPONDENT.
Exhibit P7 COPY OF THE APPLICATION SUBMITTED BY THE PETITIONER'S WORKER NIDHEESH K DATED 3-4-2021 BEFORE THE 1ST RESPONDENT Exhibit P8 COPY OF THE APPLICATION SUBMITTED BY THE PETITIONER'S WORKER MUHAMMED FASSALUDHEEN K.U DATED 3-4-2021 BEFORE THE 1ST RESPONDENT.
Exhibit P9 COPY OF THE APPLICATION SUBMITTED BY THE PETITIONER'S WORKER M.D KHURSID DATED 3-4-2021 BEFORE THE 1ST WP(C) Nos.25860/2021, 8909/2022 -19- RESPONDENT.
Exhibit P10 COPY OF THE APPLICATION SUBMITTED BY THE PETITIONER'S WORKER ILLYAS M DATED 3-4-2021 BEFORE THE 1ST RESPONDENT Exhibit P11 COPY OF THE APPLICATION SUBMITTED BY THE PETITIONER'S WORKER ABDUL RASHEED A.K DATED 3-4-2021 BEFORE THE 1ST RESPONDENT.
Exhibit P12 COPY OF THE APPLICATION SUBMITTED BY THE PETITIONER'S WORKER NIKHIL K.V DATED 3-4-2021 BEFORE THE 1ST RESPONDENT Exhibit P13 COPY OF THE APPLICATION SUBMITTED BY THE PETITIONER'S WORKER MUKESH PRASAD ROY DATED 3-4-2021 BEFORE THE 1ST RESPONDENT.
Exhibit P14 COPY OF THE APPLICATION SUBMITTED BY THE PETITIONER'S WORKER ASHRAF DATED 3-4-2021 BEFORE THE 1ST RESPONDENT Exhibit P15 COPY OF THE APPLICATION SUBMITTED BY THE PETITIONER'S WORKER MD AFROZ DATED 3-4-2021 BEFORE THE 1ST RESPONDENT. Exhibit P16 COPY OF THE APPLICATION SUBMITTED BY THE PETITIONER'S WORKER DIL BAHADUR LIMBU DATED 3-4-2021 BEFORE THE 1ST RESPONDENT Exhibit P17 COPY OF THE APPLICATION SUBMITTED BY THE PETITIONER'S WORKER MD RAHIM DATED 3-4-2021 BEFORE THE 1ST RESPONDENT. Exhibit P18 COPY OF THE APPLICATION SUBMITTED BY THE PETITIOENR'S WORKER SUNIL KUMAR C DATED 3-4-2021 BEFORE THE 1ST RESPONDENT WP(C) Nos.25860/2021, 8909/2022 -20- Exhibit P19 COPY OF THE APPLICATION SUBMITTED BY THE PETITIONER'S WORKER MD SADDAM HUSSAIN DATED 3-4-2021 BEFORE THE 1ST RESPONDENT Exhibit P20 COPY OF THE JUDGMENT OF THIS HONOURABLE COURT DATED 13-08-2015 IN W.P9C0 NO. 23602 OF 2015 Exhibit P21 COPY OF THE ORDER NO. 379 OF 2020 DATED 5-07-2021 OF THE 1ST RESPONDENT REJECTING THE APPLICATIONS OF THE EMPLOYEES OF THE PETITIONER.
Exhibit P22 COPY OF THE JUDGMENT OF THIS HONOURABLE COURT IN W.P(C0 NO 14458 OF 2021 DATED 20-07-2021 Exhibit P23 COPY OF THE JUDGMENT OF THIS HONOURABLE COURT IN W.A NO 11097 OF 2021 DATED 3-09-2021 Exhibit P24 COPY OF THE ORDER OF THE 1ST RESPONDENT IN APPEAL NO. B-1536 OF 2021 DATED 3-11-2021 RESPONDENT EXHIBITS Exhibit R3 a THE TRUE COPY OF THE LETTER FROM CHAIRMAN OF WAYANAD DISTRICT COMMITEE OF THIS RESPONDENT TO THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF THIS RESPONDENT DATED 24.3.2022