Let's dive into a recent court case involving the Valsad District Co-operative Milk Producers Union Limited and some Mathadi workers. It's all about job rights and pay. Here's what happened.
The court had to decide if the Mathadi Board could look at its own decisions again under Section 13 of the Maharashtra Mathadi, Hamal and Other Manual Workers Act, 1969. The Board had previously turned down the workers' claims and later tried to revisit the decision.
The problem started when some Mathadi workers, including the people involved in the case, stopped the work process at the dairy. This led the dairy to ask the Mathadi Board to take action against them. The Board initially said only 12 workers needed to be dealt with.
The Board told the dairy to let all workers except those 12 continue working. But later insisted all workers, including the 12, should be given work. The dairy didn't comply, leading to more legal battles.
"The Valsad District Co-operative Milk Producers Union Limited complied with the said order but on 3-7-2008, again, the Assistant Commissioner of Labour...informed the Union that...the workers be given regular work."
The workers filed a request to the court to get their jobs back. The court allowed them to withdraw it and try other legal options. They didn't pursue further action but later asked the Board again to reconsider their case.
The court, led by Justices Anil S. Kilor and Rajnish R. Vyas, decided that the Board didn't have the legal power to look at its decisions again. The previous decisions stood, and the workers weren't entitled to back pay.
"By passing order dated 12 July 2016, officer of the Board has virtually exercise power of review...nowhere confers power upon the Board to review its own order."
The court directed the Board to consider if the workers could be employed elsewhere.
Summary: The court decided that the Mathadi Board couldn't review its own decisions, meaning the workers didn't get back pay. However, the court asked the Board to think about finding other job options for the workers.
"Disclaimer: The names used in this report are fictitious and have been added for privacy reasons."
