Can a Dismissed Contractual Worker Claim 17B Wages During Legal Appeals?

A contractual workman was dismissed on 19.02.2009, following findings from a departmental inquiry into his misconduct and indiscipline, based on allegations that he abused his superior officers and misbehaved with them. He filed an application before the Labour Court seeking reinstatement and interim relief. On 05.07.2011, the Labour Court passed an order for reinstatement with 50% back wages and the stoppage of one increment.

Aggrieved by this order, the contractor filed an appeal before the Industrial Court on 04.08.2011. The Hon'ble Industrial Court passed an order on 30.04.2013, setting aside the Labour Court's order and allowing the appeal. Aggrieved by this order, the contract workman filed a petition before the High Court, praying to set aside this order of the Industrial Court.

In this case, is the individual entitled to 17B wages at any stage, and if so, for which period? Please suggest.

Dear Kamalesh, request you kindly go through the entire provision of Section 17-B of the ID Act, 1947 once again. Payment of wages for the period of litigation under Section 17-B arises only when an appeal is preferred by the employer against the award of any Labor Court or Tribunal to reinstate the dismissed employee before a High Court or the Supreme Court only. In the instant case, the appeal is preferred by the employee against the order of the Tribunal setting aside the order of the trial Court. Therefore, Section 17-B cannot be applied to this appeal by the employee.

Thank you for your response.

Section 17B and Payment of Last Drawn Wages

The question pertains to whether Section 17B allows for the payment of the last drawn wages during legal proceedings before the High Court and the Supreme Court. In this scenario, the Labour Court had reinstated the workers, and the case subsequently proceeded to the Industrial Court.

Entitlement to 17B Wages

Is the worker entitled to request the payment of 17B wages from the time of reinstatement by the Labour Court until the resolution of the case by the Industrial Tribunal?

Clarification on Section 17B and Industrial Court Proceedings

The facts are a bit confusing. Section 17B, as mentioned in the query, is a part of the ID Act 1947. First of all, there is no Industrial Court in the Act; it is the Industrial Tribunal, and it is not an appellate body over the Labour Court. When aggrieved with the Labour Court Order directing reinstatement, the appellate proceedings lie before the High Court. During this period, Section 17B is attracted, and the employee is entitled to the continued payment of last wages during the pendency of the appeal.

Industrial Court in MPIR Act and BIR Act

The Industrial Court, as an appellate body, is present in the Madhya Pradesh Industrial Relations (MPIR) Act 1960 & the BIR Act 1946, and parallel provisions to Section 17B exist in them. In the MPIR Act, it is Section 65(3) of the Act and contemplates that during the pendency of the appeal before the Industrial Court against a decision of the Labour Court ordering reinstatement in service, if the workman is not reinstated, then during the appeal period, last wages have to be paid to the workman subject to the workman swearing an affidavit of being non-employed.

Please clarify the exact legislation involved. If the appeal was filed in the Industrial Court, then for the entire appeal period, the dismissed employee is entitled to last wages, as mentioned above.