Oil Palm Employees Centre & Biju K. v. State of Kerala and Oil Palm India Limited and others

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT: THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE ANIL K.NARENDRAN MONDAY, THE 27TH DAY OF JULY 2015/5TH SRAVANA, 1937 ## WP(C).No.4962 of 2011 (U) --------------------------- PETITIONERS: ------------ 1. OIL PALM EMPLOYEES CENTRE, REG.NO.02-36/2001, H.O.VILAKKUPARA, BHARATHEEPURAM.(P.O) YEROOR, ANCHAL, KOLLAM-691330, REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY, SABU.K.D. 2. BIJU.K., WORKER, CHITHARA ESTATE, OIL PALM INDIA LIMITED, RESIDING AT KUTTIVILA PUTHEN VEEDU, VILAKKUPARA.P.O., ANCHAL. BY ADVS.SRI.MANOJ RAMASWAMY SRI.K.T.THOMAS (KANNAMPALLIL) SMT.K.G.SAROJINI RESPONDENTS : - ------------- 1. STATE OF KERALA, REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT, AGRICULTURE DEPARTMENT, SECRETARIAT, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 2. OIL PALM INDIA LIMITED, REPRESENTED BY - THE MANAGING DIRECTOR, REGD. OFFICE-OLD STAR THEATRE ROAD, KOTTAYAM-686039. 3. K.N.RAVINDRAN, MANAGING DIRECTOR, OIL PALM INDIA LIMITED, REGD. OFFICE-OLD STAR THEATRE ROAD, KOTTAYAM-686039. 4. THE KERALA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY, PATTOM.P.O., THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 5. UNNIKRISHNAN NAIR.K.C., (WORKING AS DRIVER, OPIL)., ARACKAL HOUSE, PERUMBAIKADU.P.O., KOTTAYAM. 6. M.S. BIJI, (WORKING AS DRIVER, OPIL)., MULLAMANGALAM HOUSE, VEROOR.P.O., CHANGANACHERRY, KOTTAYAM DISTRICT. 7. ABHILASH.M.P., (WORKING AS DRIVER, OPIL). MUPPATHIL CHIRA VEEDU, KARAPPUZHA.P.O., KOTTAYAM. WP(C).No.4962 of 2011 (U) 8. PRIYA RAJ.P. (WORKING AS TECHNICAL ASSISTANT, OPIL), SIVAMANGALAM, AITHOTTUVA, WEST KALLADA.P.O., KOLLAM DIST-691500. 9. V.S. SMITHA,(WORKING AS TECHNICAL ASSISTANT, OPIL), THADATHIL VADAKKATHIL, MELOOD.P.O., PERINGANAND, ADOOR. 10. SAIJU N SANUJAN,(WORKING AS JUNIOR ASSISTANT, OPIL), SANJU NIVAS, NEDIYAKALATHI, OPP. PEAL HILL, KOTTAYAM-686001. 11. PRIYA.V.V. (WORKING AS JUNIOR ASSISTANT, OPIL) NISHA BHAVAN, EZHUKONE.P.O KOLLAM. 12. SURYAKUMARI.M.S.,(WORKING AS JUNIOR ASSISTANT, OPIL), SUNIL MANDIRAM, CHITHARA, AYIRAKUZHAY.P.O., KOLLAM. 13. SYAMA.C.S., (WORKING AS JUNIOR ASSISTANT, OPIL), JEEVAN NIVAS, KADAKKAL, KOLLAM. 14. KARTHIKA S. NAIR,(WORKING AS JUNIOR ASSISTANT, OPIL), CHERIYIL SAUBHAGYA, S.PURAM.P.O., KURICHY, KOTTAYAM-686532. 15. RETHEESH.P.R.,(WORKING AS PBX OPERATOR, OPIL), PLATHANAM HOUSE, MANNANAM.P.O, KOTTAYAM-686561. 16. JAGADAMBIKA.S., (WORKING AS DRAFTSMAN, OPIL), SHAJI MANDIRAM, YEROOR.P.O., KOLLAM-691312. 17. LEKSHMI R. PILLAI,(WORKING AS DRAFTSMAN, OPIL), SHREE LEKSHMI HOUSE, CHENNITHALA.P.O., MAVELIKARA, ALAPPUZHA-690105. 18. ANILKUMAR.B.K., (WORKING AS DRAFTSMAN, OPIL), JALAJAMANDIRAM, VETTIKAVALA.P.O, KOTTARAKARA, KOLLAM-691538. 19. RAJESHMON.R.K., (WORKING AS ENGG. SUPERVISOR, OPIL) RAJESH SADANAM, KUDAVECHOOR.P.O., VAIKOM, KOTTAYAM. 20. RAJAN.G.(WORKING AS ENGG.SUPERVISOR, OPIL) RAJA VILASAM, PAMA MANNARA, VALACODE.P.O., PUNALUR, KOLLAM DISTRICT. 21. JAYA B.S.,(WORKING AS NURSE, OPIL) PANAVELIKONATHU VEEDU, PANAVELI.P.O. KOTTARAKARA-691544. WP(C).No.4962 of 2011 (U) 22. SHOAM.C.J., (WORKING AS ELECTRICIAN,OPIL) CHITHIRA, BHARATHIPURAM.P.O., YEROOR (VIA), KOLLAM DIST-691330. R4 BY ADV. SRI.P.C.SASIDHARAN, SC, KPSC R2 &3 BY ADV. SRI.E.K.NANDAKUMAR R2 &3 BY ADV. SRI.K.JOHN MATHAI R2 &3 BY ADV. SRI.P.BENNY THOMAS R2 &3 BY ADV. SRI.P.GOPINATH R13 BY ADV. SRI.KALEESWARAM RAJ R12&14 BY ADV. SRI.A.JAYASANKAR R12 &14 BY ADV. SRI.MANU GOVIND R8-9 BY ADV. SMT.SREEDEVI KYLASANATH R8-9 BY ADV. SMT.SHALEENA RAJAN R-7,10 & 15 BY ADV. SRI.V.RAJENDRAN (PERUMBAVOOR) R-7,10 & 15 BY ADV. SRI.GEORGE VARGHESE KIZHAKKAMBALAM R5,6 BY ADV. SMT.R.RANJINI R5,6 BY ADV. SRI.S.RENJITH R11,17,18,19,20 BY ADV. SRI.K.SASIKUMAR BY GOVERNMENT PLEADER SRI.P.V.ELIAS THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON 27-07-2015, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: WP(C).No.4962 of 2011 (U) ## APPENDIX ## PETITIONERS' EXHIBITS :- EXT.P1 : COPY OF THE CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION OF THE 1ST PETITIONER ISSUED BY THE DEPUTY REGISTRAR OF TRADE UNIONS. EXT.P2 : COPY OF THE MINUTES (RELEVANT PORTION) OF THE 169TH MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF OIL PALM INDIA LTD. EXT.P3 : COPY OF THE RECRUITMENT AND PROMOTION RULES OF OIL PALM INDIA LTD. (RELEVANT PORTION). EXT.P4 : COPY OF THE NEWSPAPER REPORT IN MATHRUBHUMI DAILY DTD.23.1.11. EXT.P5 : COPY OF THE REPRESENTATION DTD.18.12.10. EXT.P6 : COPY OF THE REPRESENTATION DTD.7.1.11. EXT.P7 : COPY OF THE EXTRACT OF THE MINUTES OF THE 171ST MEETING (RELEVANT PORTION) OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF OIL PALM INDIA LTD. AT KOTTAYAM DTD.27.2.2011. EXT.P8 : COPY OF THE PROCEEDINGS NO.OP/PD/211/3654 DTD.13.5.99. RESPONDENTS' EXHIBITS :- EXT.R5(1) : COPY OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE 1ST RESPONDENT. EXT.R5(2) : COPY OF RECOMMENDATION DTD.9.4.08 ISSUED BY THE 2ND RESPONDENT TO THE 1ST RESPONDENT. EXT.R5(3) : COPY OF COMMUNICATION DTD.30.1.08 ISSUED BY THE 1ST RESPONDENT TO THE 2ND RESPONDENT. EXT.R5(4) : COPY OF THE LETTER DTD.9.9.10 OF THE 2ND RESPONDENT. EXT.R10(a) : COPY OF RELEVANT PAGE OF MATHRUBHOOMI DAILY DTD.7.6.08. EXT.R10(b) : COPY OF PROCEEDINGS DTD.29.7.08 OF THE 1ST PETITIONER. EXT.R10(c) : COPY OF PROCEEDINGS DTD.29.7.08 OF THE 1ST PETITIONER. EXT.R10(d) : COPY OF PROCEEDINGS DTD.8.1.09 OF THE 1ST PETITIONER. WP(C).No.4962 of 2011 (U) - Annexure-R2(a) : COPY OF THE RECRUITMENT AND PROMOTION RULES PREVAILING IN THE COMPANY. - Annexure-R2(b) : COPY OF THE NOTIFICATION PUBLISHED IN MATHRUBHOOMI DAILY DTD.21.2.04. - Annexure-R2(c) : COPY OF THE ADVICE GIVEN BY THE DISTRICT EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGE DTD.6.2.99. - Annexure-R2(d) : COPY OF THE NOTIFICATION PUBLISHED IN MATHRUBHOOMI DAILY DTD.7.6.08. - Ext.R8(a) : COPY OF THE NOTIFICATION INVITING APPLICATION FOR APPOINTMENT AS TECHNICAL ASSISTANT ON CONTRACT BASIS PUBLISHED IN KERALA KAUMUDI DAILY DTD.27.2.04. - EXT.R8(b) : COPY OF THE LIST OF CANDIDATES CALLED FOR INTERVIEW WHICH THE RESPONDENTS RECEIVED UNDER RIGHT TO INFORMATION ACT. - EXT.R8(c) series : COPIES OF APPOINTMENT ORDER DTD.27.12.04, 12.1.07, 21.1.08 & 28.1.11. - Ext.R8(d) : COPY OF THE APPOINTMENT ORDER DTD.27.12.04 ISSUED TO 9TH RESPONDENT AS TECHNICAL ASSISTANT ON CONTRACT BASIS FOR 2 YEARS. - EXT.R8(e) series : COPIES OF APPOINTMENT ORDERS DTD.12.1.07, 21.1.08, 27.1.09 & 28.1.11 OF 9TH RESPONDENT. - EXT.R8(f) : COPY OF LETTER DTD.9.9.10 OF 2ND RESPONDENT SEEKING THE APPROVAL OF 1ST RESPONDENT FOR REGULARISATION. True copy P.A to Judge ## **ANIL K.NARENDRAN, J. ----------------------------------W.P.(C)No.4962 of 2011 -----------------------------------Dated this the 27[th] day of July, 2015** ## **JUDGMENT** The petitioners have filed this writ petition seeking a writ of certiorari to quash Resolution No.2532 taken by the Board of Directors of Oil Palm India Limited in its 169[th] meeting held on 6.8.2010, as evidenced by Ext.P2 minutes, to regularise the appointment of respondents 5 to 22 herein. 2. The 1[st] petitioner is the Secretary of the Oil Palm Employees Centre, the registered Staff Union of Oil Palm India Limited. The 2[nd] petitioner is a worker in Oil Palm India Limited. Their grievance in this writ petition is that, the Board of Directors of Oil Palm India Limited in its meeting held on 6.8.2010 resolved to regularise the service of respondents 5 to 22, who are engaged on contract/casual basis till candidates through Public Service Commission are appointed. A reading of Ext.P2 minutes would show that, the Board of Directors of the Company resolved to regularize 18 employees working on contract/casual basis for the reason that, they have been working for long time on contract/casual basis and W.P.(C)No.4962 of 2011 2 considering the time involved for finalising the recruitment rule and recruitment through Public Service Commission. Therefore, it was resolved in Ext.P2 that the employees who are appointed on contract/casual basis may be appointed on permanent basis, with the approval of the Government. 3. By order dated 17.2.2011, this Court has passed an interim order directing the 1[st] respondent to keep in abeyance all further proceedings pursuant to Resolution No.2532 contained in Ext.P2, pending disposal of this writ petition. 4. During the course of hearing it was pointed out by the learned Standing Counsel for the 2[nd] respondent Company that, in view of the interim order passed by this Court, the Government is yet to take a decision on the request made by the Company for grant of approval to the decision taken by the Board of Directors of the Company vide Resolution No.2532 contained in Ext.P2 and the file is still pending consideration before the 1[st] respondent. 5. I heard the arguments of the learned counsel for the petitioners, the learned Government Pleader for the 1[st] respondent, the learned Standing Counsel for the 2[nd] respondent Company, the learned W.P.(C)No.4962 of 2011 3 Standing Counsel for the Public Service Commission and also the respective counsel appearing for the party respondents. 6. The petitioners would mainly contend that, some among the employees ordered to be regularised, subject to the approval that may be granted by the Government, were engaged by the 2[nd] respondent Company immediately before passing of Resolution No.2532 contained in Ext.P2. Some among them were having only few months/years service in the 2[nd] respondent Company as on the date of passing of the said resolution. Therefore, according to the petitioners, regularisation of such employees on the ground that they have been working in the 2[nd] respondent Company for long time on contract/casual basis is patently illegal. In order to substantiate the above contention, the petitioners have also furnished the service particulars of some among the employees, which reads thus; |**Status of the**<br>**respondent**|**Date of**<br>**appointment**|**Designation**|**Nature of**<br>**Employment**| |---|---|---|---| |5threspondent|08/04/99|Driver|Contract| |6threspondent|09/07/99|Driver|Contract| |7threspondent|14/01/06|Driver|Contract| |8threspondent|05/01/05|Technical Assistant|Contract| |9threspondent|06/01/05|Technical Assistant|Contract| |10threspondent|06/08/08|Junior Assistant|Contract| W.P.(C)No.4962 of 2011 4 |**Status of the**<br>**respondent**|**Date of**<br>**appointment**|**Designation**|**Nature of**<br>**Employment**| |---|---|---|---| |11threspondent|23/07/07|Junior Assistant|Daily Wage| |12threspondent|01/10/09|Junior Assistant|Daily Wage| |13threspondent|04/05/09|Junior Assistant|Daily Wage| |14threspondent|05/04/10|Junior Assistant|Contract| |15threspondent|05/08/08|PBX Operator|Contract| |19threspondent|05/08/10|Engineering Supervisor|Contract| |20threspondent|27/01/10|Engineering Supervisor|Contract| |21strespondent|01/07/09|Nurse|Contract| 7. The 2[nd] and 3[rd] respondents have filed a statement denying the allegations made in the writ petition and justifying the action of the Board of Directors of the 2[nd] respondent Company in passing Resolution No.2532 contained in Ext.P2. Some among the party respondents have also filed counter affidavits contending, inter alia, that the aforesaid resolution taken by the Board of Directors of the 2[nd] respondent Company is perfectly legal and no interference of this Court is warranted. Some among the party respondents have also challenged the locus standi of the petitioners to question the resolution taken the Board of Directors of the Company. 8. It is discernible from the pleadings on record that, the 5[th] and 6[th] respondents who are Ex-servicemen were among the 16 candidates sponsored by the Employment Exchange, out of which 6 W.P.(C)No.4962 of 2011 5 candidates attended the interview. After the selection process the 5[th] and 6[th] respondents were engaged as Drivers on contract basis, with effect from 8.4.1999 and 9.7.1994 respectively. Similarly, the 8[th] and 9[th] respondents were engaged as Technical Assistant on contract, with effect from 5.1.2005 and 6.1.2005 respectively based on a selection process conducted after publishing the notification in newspaper, from among the 138 candidates responded to the said notification, among whom 19 were interviewed on 19.11.2004. 9. The 10[th] and 15[th] respondents would contend that, they were engaged as Junior Assistant and PBX Operator respectively, on contract basis, with effect from 6.8.2008 and 5.8.2008 respectively, based on a selection process conducted after publishing the notification in newspaper, in which 22 candidates applied for the post of Junior Assistant and 2 candidates for the post of PBX Operator. The 7[th] respondent would contend that, he was engaged as Driver on contract basis, based on Ext.R10(d) proceedings dated 8.1.2009. Though the 7[th] respondent would contend that he was originally engaged as Driver on daily wages from the year 2004 onwards, there is noting on record to substantiate the said contention. Similarly, the 13[th] and 14[th] W.P.(C)No.4962 of 2011 6 respondents would contend that, they were engaged as Junior Assistant on 4.5.2009 and 1.10.2009 respectively, on daily wages. As borne out from the statement filed by the 2[nd] and 3[rd] respondents, the 11[th] and 12[th] respondents were engaged as Junior Assistant on daily wages from 4.5.2009 and 1.10.2009 respectively, and the 16[th] respondent was engaged on daily wages on 27.1.2010 and the 17[th] respondent was engaged on contract basis on 5.8.2010. 10. The fact that some among the employees ordered to be regularised were engaged by the 2[nd] respondent Company immediately before passing of Resolution No.2532 contained in Ext.P2 and that, some among them were having only few months/years service in the Company as on the date of passing of the said resolution is not in dispute. Similarly, it is also not in dispute that, any regularisation of the employment of respondents 2 to 22 based on Resolution No.2532 contained in Ext.P2 can be made only with the approval of the Government, which is still pending, in view of the interim order passed by this Court dated 17.2.2011 in this writ petition. 11. Since approval for Resolution No.2532 contained in Ext.P2 is still pending consideration before the Government, I do not deem it W.P.(C)No.4962 of 2011 7 necessary or proper to go into the legality or otherwise of the said decision taken by the Board of Directors of the 2[nd] respondent Company, in this writ petition. It is for the 1[st] respondent to take appropriate decision on Resolution No.2532 of the Board of directors of the 2[nd] respondent Company contained in Ext.P2, strictly in accordance with law and keeping in mind the principle laid down in the judgment of a Constitution Bench of the Apex Court in **Secretary, State of Karnataka and others v. Umadevi (3) and others (2006 (4) SCC 1)** . 12. In such circumstances, this writ petition is disposed of directing the 1[st] respondent to take appropriate decision on Resolution No.2532 of the Board of directors of the 2[nd] respondent Company contained in Ext.P2, strictly in accordance with law and keeping in mind the principle laid down in the judgment of a Constitution Bench of the Apex Court in **Secretary, State of Karnataka and others v. Umadevi (3) and others (2006 (4) SCC 1)** , with notice to the 2[nd] respondent Company and after affording it a reasonable opportunity of being heard. It would be open to the writ petitioners and the party respondents to submit written submissions before the 1[st] respondent, W.P.(C)No.4962 of 2011 8 within a period of 2 weeks from the date of receipt of a certified copy of this judgment. If any such written submissions are received, the 1[st] respondent shall consider the same as well while taking a decision as directed above. The 1[st] respondent shall pass a reasoned order, as expeditiously as possible, at any rate within a period of three months from the date of receipt of a certified copy of this judgment. 13. It is made clear that, this Court has not expressed anything on the merits of the rival contentions made by both sides on the legality or otherwise of Resolution No.2532 of the Board of Directors of the 2[nd] respondent Company contained in Ext.P2 and it is for the 1[st] respondent to take an appropriate decision in the matter, strictly in accordance with law and keeping in mind the principle laid down in the judgment of a Constitution Bench of the Apex Court in **Secretary, State of Karnataka and others v. Umadevi (3) and others (2006** ## **(4) SCC 1)** . No order as to costs. ## **ANIL K.NARENDRAN, JUDGE** skj