1.RULE. The learned counsel appearing for the respondents waives service of Rule. The impugned order purporting to have been made below the application made by the respondents under Section 33-A of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 is challenged on the ground that it is incompetent, without jurisdiction and amounts to granting the whole and final relief at the interim stage.
2.It is apparent from the averments made in the original application of the respondents themselves that no reference case or proceedings were pending before the Labour Court at the time the application for maintaining status quo or the subsequent application was made. The provisions of Section 33-A of the I.D.Act clearly contemplate an application or a complaint to Labour Court, Tribunal or National Tribunal where the proceedings are pending. As stated in the application of the respondents, the proceedings were pending before the Conciliation Officer and not before the Labour Court which has passed the impugned order. Therefore, the impugned order is obviously without jurisdiction and, therefore, required to be quashed and set aside. Accordingly, the impugned order dated 15.5.2000 below Ex.18 in Reference I.T.(Complaint) No.4 of 2000 pending before the Labour Court, Jamnagar is set aside. The petition is allowed and the Rule is made absolute with no order as to costs. It will be open for the respondents to file an appropriate application or complaint before the authority or forum where the proceedings pursuant to their demand may be pending.
Sd/-
(KMG Thilake) ##########