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  4. 2024/
  5. June

Bibhu Bhushan Deb Roy vs. the State of Assam and Anr.

Decided on 28 June 2024• Citation: WP(C)/1574/2017• Gauhati High Court
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                                                                  Page No.# 1/18    
        GAHC010015992017                                                            
                             THE  GAUHATI    HIGH   COURT                           
          (HIGH COURT OF ASSAM, NAGALAND, MIZORAM AND ARUNACHAL  PRADESH)           
                              Case No. : WP(C)/1574/2017                            
                  Sri Bibhu Bhusan Deb Roy,                                         
                  S/o Late Beni Bhushan Deb Roy,                                    
                  C/o Late Madhu Sudhan Choiudhury,                                 
                  Resident of Samshan road (College Road),                          
                  P.O. Silchar, P.S. Silchar Sadar,                                 
                  District-Cachar, Assam.                                           
                                        …..Petitioner .                             
                       Versus                                                       
             1.   The State of Assam,                                               
                  Represented by the Labour Commissioner,                           
                  Labour & Employment Department, Gopinath Nagar,                   
                  Guwahati-781016, Kamrup (Metro) Assam.                            
            2.   M/s Schlumberger Asia Service Limited,                             
                A Company registered under Companies Act, 1956,                     
                Having its registered office at Nazira, near ONGC Complex,          
                P.O. Nazira, District-Sibsagar, Pin-785685, Assam.                  
                                                ……Respondents.                      

                                                                  Page No.# 2/18    
                                       BEFORE                                       
                      HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE MICHAEL ZOTHANKHUMA                       
        For the petitioner       : Mr. M. Nath   …. Senior Advocate.                
                                  Ms. D.L. Deka. .... Advocate                      
        For the respondents      : Mr. K.N. Choudhury …. Senior Advocate.           
                                  Mr. D. Borah   .... Advocate.                     
        Dates of hearing         : 18.06.2024                                       
        Date of Judgment         : 28.06.2024                                       
                     JUDGMENT    AND ORDER   (CAV)                                  
        1.   Heard Mr. M. Nath, learned Senior Counsel assisted by Ms. D.L. Deka,   
        learned counsel for the petitioner. Also heard K.N. Choudhury, learned Senior
        Counsel assisted by Mr. D. Borah, learned counsel for the respondent no.2.  
        2.   The  petitioner’s case is that pursuant to the order dated 11.02.2013  
        passed by the Industrial Tribunal, Silchar, Cachar in Reference Case No.3/2008,
        the petitioner was reinstated back into service w.e.f. 18.04.1990 with full back
        wages. However, the petitioner’s grievance is with regard to the calculation
        made by the respondents while awarding him the back wages, inasmuch as, the 
        same has been calculated on the basis of a petitioner’s basic pay at the time of
        his termination from service, i.e. @ Rs.390/- per month.                    
        3.   The brief facts of the case is that the petitioner was appointed as Junior
        Operator Grade-III in M/s Schlumberger Asia Service Limited, registered under

                                                                  Page No.# 3/18    
        the Laws of Hong Kong. The petitioner was appointed on 10.07.1988 and on    
        01.01.1990, he was placed under suspension followed by his termination from 
        service w.e.f. 18.04.1990. The dispute between the petitioner and the       
        respondent no.2 was referred to the Industrial Tribunal, Silchar, Cachar for
        adjudication, wherein it was registered as Reference Case No.3/2008. Reference
        Case No.3/2008 was disposed of vide order dated 11.02.2013, by reinstating the
        petitioner w.e.f. 18.04.1990 and granting him full back wages. Subsequent to
        the above, the respondent no.2 paid Rs.4,75,084.70 to the petitioner as full and
        final settlement of the wages. Being aggrieved, the petitioner approached the
        Assistant Labour Commissioner for payment of full back wages amounting to   
        Rs.2,26,78,177.30, by taking the stand that the respondent no.2 did not include
        any increment/allowance or revision of pay while paying the petitioner      
        Rs.4,75,084.70.                                                             
        4.   The  Assistant Labour Commissioner thereafter directed the Certificate 
        Officer, Sivasagar to recover an amount of Rs.2,26,78,177.30 with interest from
        the respondent no.2, vide Certificate dated 14.10.2014.                     
        5.   Being aggrieved, the respondent no.2 approached this Court vide WP(C)  
        6842/2014, praying to set aside the notices and proceedings in Bakijai Case 
        No.70/2014 initiated on the basis of the said order dated 30.09.2014 issued by
        the Assistant Labour Commissioner, for recovery of Rs.2,26,78,177.30.       
        6.   This Court disposed of WP(C) 6842/2014, vide order dated 13.02.2015, by
        holding that it was an admitted position that in the adjudication process made
        by the Assistant Labour Commissioner, wherein the respondent no.2 was made  

                                                                  Page No.# 4/18    
        liable to pay to the petitioner Rs.2,26,78,177.30, the respondent no.2 was not
        associated in the adjudication process. This Court thereafter disposed of the writ
        petition by setting aside the two notices dated 03.12.2014 issued by the    
        Recovery Officer, Certificate dated 30.09.2014 issued by the Assistant Labour
        Commissioner and Bakijai Case no.70/2014. This Court in it’s order dated    
        13.02.2015 also recorded the fact that the petitioner had undertaken to file an
        application under Section 33(C)(2) of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947     
        (hereinafter referred to as “1947 Act”) with regard to non-payment of the entire
        back wages.                                                                 
        7.   The petitioner thereafter filed a petition under Section 33(C)(2) of the
        1947 Act, for recovery and realisation of unpaid back wages and also prayed for
        computation of the same before the Labour Court, Guwahati. The petition was 
        registered as Case No.2/2015. Case No.2/2015 was dismissed by the learned   
        Labour Court, vide Award dated 16.06.2016, by holding that there was no     
        documentary evidence with regard to the petitioner’s claim for field allowance
        and no specific direction was made with regard to the notional increment    
        payable to the petitioner. Paragraph nos.10, 11 and 12 of the Award dated   
        16.06.2016 passed in Case No.2/2015 by the Labour Court is reproduced       
        hereinbelow, as follows :                                                   
             10.  Claimant while adduceing evidence has altogether exhibited 13     
             “                                                                      
             documents. However except 13 other documents are photostate copies.    
             Ld. counsel for the opposite party has disputed the genuineness of Ext.13
             as there are some correction without seal and signature. As per Ext.13 net
             pay of the petitioner at the time of dismissal was Rs.4174/-. Even if the
             aforesaid amount is considered to be the salary of petitioner at the time of
             dismissal for computing back wages or as to consider his Basic Salary, 
             D.A., HRA and Field Allowance which has been accepted by management    

                                                                  Page No.# 5/18    
             side and management has computed the back wages on the aforesaid fact  
             and salary.                                                            
                  Petitioner has claimed that he is entitled for Field Allowance.   
             However there is no documentary evidence that he is entitled for Field 
             Allowance. In the pay slip also there is no mention that he is entitled for
             Field Allowance. Apart from that there is no calculation sheet from the
             side of petitioner as to how much he is entitled as back wages in different
             heads.                                                                 
             11.  Ld. Labour Court while passing the award has made it clear that   
             petitioner is entitled for reinstatement with full back wages from the date
             of dismissal. However there is no specific direction as regard the notional
             increment of the petitioner. In absence of such specific direction the 
             requirement of law is that the Executing Court cannot  determine       
             increment notionally. In such circumstances petitioner is not entitled 
             increment. From the claim petition as well as evidence on record the   
             admitted position is that petitioner has already received an amount of 
             Rs.4,52,738/- (Rupees four lakhs fifty two thousand seven hundred &    
             thirty eight) only as back wages. The said back wages was paid by the  
             management as follows.                                                 
             SR. No. Wage components as on 18.04.1990 Amount in Rs.                 
             1.      Basic                           390                            
             2.      DA                              312                            
             3.      HRA                             550                            
             4.      Field allowance                 331                            
                 Total (per month)                1583                              
                Therefore, Rs.1583x23 years and 08 months                           
                = Rs.4,52,738/- (Approx).                                           
                The computation made by management is in accordance with pay slip   
             issued to petitioner and the same is acceptable in view of the facts and
             law.”                                                                  

                                                                  Page No.# 6/18    
        8.   The petitioner’s counsel submits that back wages includes the benefit of
        revised wages or salary and revision of yearly increments, revised Dearness 
        Allowance and other benefits. In support of the said submission, the learned
        Senior Counsel has relied upon the judgment of the Supreme Court in the case
        of State Bank of India & Others vs. T.J. Paul, reported in (1999) 4 SCC     
        759 and in the case of Gammon India Limited vs. Niranjan Dass, reported     
        in (1984) 1 SCC 509.                                                        
        9.   The petitioner’s counsel submits that petitioner’s back wages has been 
        calculated as per wage components given to him as on 18.04.1990. He submits 
        that the wage components given to the petitioner on 18.04.1990 could not have
        been the same in the year 2014. There had to be a revision of pay and payment
        of increments during the period of 24 years that he was not in service.     
        10.  The  petitioner’s counsel thus prays that the Award dated 16.06.2016   
        passed by the learned Labour Court, Guwahati in Case No.2/2015 should be set
        aside. A direction should also be issued directing the respondent no.2 to pay
        back wages to the petitioner, after computing the increments and allowances 
        due and admissible to the petitioner along with interest w.e.f. 18.04.1990, till his
        reinstatement.                                                              
        11.  The petitioner’s counsel submits that on being reinstated into service he
        was  directed to join in Mumbai. However, on reaching Mumbai  he was        
        threatened with bodily harm and assaulted by workers of the respondent no.2,
        due to which he fled from Mumbai and filed an FIR in the Silchar Police Station,
        Cachar, Assam. The Silchar Police Station sent the FIR to the concerned Mumbai

                                                                  Page No.# 7/18    
        Police Station for taking up necessary follow-up action. Thereafter the petitioner
        did not pursue the FIR submitted by him.                                    
        12.  Mr. K.N. Choudhury, learned Senior Counsel for the respondent no.2     
        submits that there should be an existing dispute between the parties regarding
        the determined amount payable by the respondent No.2, prior to the submission
        of a petition under Section 33(C)(2) of the 1947 Act. However, there being no
        existing dispute with regard to the amount payable by the respondent no.2, the
        petition filed by the petitioner before the Labour Court was misplaced. He also
        submits that the learned Labour Court having found no materials to prove the
        case of the petitioner that there was revision of pay or increment payable to the
        petitioner, there was no infirmity in the decision to dismiss the petition under
        Section 33(C)(2) of the 1947 Act. He also submits that in the absence of any
        specific direction as regard the notional increment payable to the petitioner, it
        was not possible for the Executing Court to determine the increment notionally
        payable to the petitioner. He also submits that the respondent no.2’s demand for
        wage revision/salary increment would purely depend on the following factors :
             (a)    Schlumberger  Annual   Performance   appraisal (in  short       
             “                                                                      
                  ‘Schlumberger Appraisal’)                                         
             (b)  Fix Step Training Program (Promotion)                             
             (c) Overall performance of the Schlumberger group at a global level”   
        13.  Mr. K.N. Choudhury submits that wage revision/salary increment are given
        as a result of evaluation of an employee’s performance as per the company   
        Policy and on an individual basis. He submits that the same is not given across
        the board to  every employee. As  such, there could be no  revision of      

                                                                  Page No.# 8/18    
        salary/increment in the petitioner’s case, as he did not work for the company for
        more than 23 years.                                                         
        14.  The learned Senior Counsel for the respondent no.2 further submits that
        the petitioner being absent from duty, he cannot claim the benefit of notional
        increment during the period of his absence. The petitioner cannot claim     
        increments only because he has been reinstated into service with benefit of 
        continuity in service. In this regard, he has relied upon the judgment of the
        Supreme Court in the case of A.P.S.R.T.C. & Another vs. S. Narsagoud,       
        reported in (2003) 2 SCC 212  and in the case of Andhra Pradesh State       
        Road Transport Corporation  (A.P.S.R.T.C.) & Others vs. Abdul Kareem,       
        reported in (2005) 6 SCC 36.                                                
        15.   The learned Senior Counsel for the respondent no.2 submits that       
        whenever a workman  is entitled to receive from his employer, any money or  
        benefit which is capable of being computed in terms of money and which he is
        entitled to receive from his employer and is denied of such benefit, the    
        workman  can approach the Labour Court under Section 33(C)(2) of the 1947   
        Act. The benefit sought to be enforced under Section 33(C)(2) of the 1947 Act
        requires a pre-existing benefit flowing from a pre-existing right. However, in the
        present case, the petitioner not having shown any document to show that he is
        entitled to some pre-existing benefit or pre-existing right, there is no infirmity
        with the dismissal of petitioner under Section 33(C)(2) of the 1947 Act. In this
        regard, he had relied upon the judgment of the Supreme Court in the case of 
        State of Uttar Pradesh & Another vs. Brijpal Singh, reported in (2005) 8    
        SCC 58. The learned Senior Counsel also submits that where a decision has to

                                                                  Page No.# 9/18    
        be made with regard to whether back wages should be awarded, it is necessary
        for the employee to plead that he was not gainfully employed from the date of
        his termination, only then the burden will shift to the employer. The learned
        Senior Counsel submits that as far as he has been informed, the FIR filed by the
        petitioner has been quashed by the Mumbai High Court. Further, after taking the
        full wages of Rs.4,75,084.70 without protest, the petitioner, who went to   
        Mumbai, never joined his work, on the plea that his wife was ill.           
        16.  I have heard the learned counsels for the parties.                     
        17.  In the case of Gammon India Limited vs. Niranjan Dass (supra), the     
        Supreme Court has held that the respondent therein would be entitled to all 
        back wages including the benefit of revised wages or salary, if during the period
        there is revision of pay scales with yearly increment, revised Dearness     
        Allowance or variable Dearness Allowance and all terminal benefits if he has
        reached the age of superannuation, such as Provident Fund, Gratuity etc. Back
        wages should be calculated as if the respondent therein continued in service
        uninterrupted. The respondent therein would also be  entitled to leave      
        encashment and bonus if other workmen in the same category were paid the    
        same.                                                                       
        18.  In the case of State Bank of India & Others vs. T.J. Paul (supra), the 
        Supreme Court has held that while setting aside the order of removal by the 
        High Court was sustained and the directions to pay back wages, granting     
        promotions and monetary benefits by way of salary etc. would also remain.   

                                                                  Page No.# 10/18   
        19.  In the case of A.P.S.R.T.C. & Another vs. S. Narsagoud (supra), the    
        Supreme Court has referred to the case of State Bank of India vs. Ram       
        Chandra  Dubey  and Others,  reported in (2000) IILLJ1660SC, wherein the    
        Supreme Court held that when a reference is made to an Industrial Tribunal to
        adjudicate the question not only as to whether the termination of a workman is
        justified or not but to grant appropriate relief, the same would consist of an
        examination of the question whether the reinstatement should be with full or
        partial back wages or none. Such a question is one of fact depending upon the
        evidence to be  produced  before the Tribunal. Such questions can be        
        appropriately examined only in a reference. When a reference is made under  
        Section 10 of the Act, all incidental questions arising thereto can be determined
        by the Tribunal.                                                            
        20.  In the case of Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport  Corporation        
        (A.P.S.R.T.C.) & Others vs. Abdul Kareem   (supra), the Supreme Court       
        held that it would be incongruous to suggest that an employee, having been  
        held guilty and remained absent from duty for a long time, continued to earn
        increments though there is no payment of wages for the period of absence.   
        21.  In the case of Brijpal Singh (supra), the Supreme Court held that a    
        workman  can proceed  under Section 33C(2) only after the Tribunal has      
        adjudicated on a complaint made under Section 33A or under a reference under
        Section 10C, that the order of dismissal was not justified and has reinstated the
        workman. Further, in the case of Punjab Beverages Pvt. Ltd. vs. Suresh      
        ChandMANU/SC/0273/1978,      the Supreme Court has held that the right to   
        the money which is sought to be calculated or to the benefit which is sought to

                                                                  Page No.# 11/18   
        be computed must be an existing one, that is to say already adjudicated upon
        or provided for and must arise in the course of and in relation to the relationship
        between the Industrial workman and his employer. The Supreme Court further  
        held that it is not competent to the Labour Court exercising jurisdiction under
        Section 33C(2), to arrogate to itself the functions of an industrial tribunal and
        entertain a claim which is not based on an existing right, but which may    
        appropriately be made the subject matter of an industrial dispute in a reference
        under Section 10 of the Act.                                                
        22.  As  can be seen from the various judgments referred to above, the      
        petitioner would be entitled to revision of his pay and increment etc., provided
        there was revision of pay scales made for similarly placed employees. However,
        in the present case, the respondents have taken a stand that revision of salary
        and increments are given on the basis of an individual employee’s performance.
        In the present case, there has been no revision or any increment given to the
        petitioner, as he had not worked for more than 23 years. Further, even after he
        had been asked to work in the year 2014, the petitioner did not join his post on
        the ground that he had been threatened with physical harm by his co-workers in
        Mumbai. There is nothing to show that the petitioner’s allegation is true. No
        document has been submitted by the petitioner to show that there has been   
        revision of pay and increments applicable to him.                           
        23.  In the Award dated 16.06.2016, passed by the Labour Court, Guwahati in 
        Case No.2/2015 [under Section 33C(2)], the learned Labour Court has after   
        going through the evidence recorded, held that there was no document or     
        calculation sheet from the side of the petitioner, showing as to how he was 
        entitled to be paid back wages in different heads. Further, while the learned

                                                                  Page No.# 12/18   
        Labour Court had  reinstated the petitioner in service in Reference Case    
        No.3/2008, there was no specific direction as regards the notional increments
        payable to the petitioner. In the absence of specific direction, it was not possible
        to come to a finding that the petitioner was to be given any revision of his pay
        or any increment was payable to him. As such, the learned Labour Court found
        no merit in the petition made by the petitioner under Section 33C(2). In the
        present writ petition also, there is nothing produced by the petitioner to show
        that there was any revision of pay.                                         
        24.  On considering the facts of this case, this Court is of the view that basic
        pay of Rs.390/- that has been given to the petitioner as Junior Operator Grade-
        III could have increased with passage of time. However, no documents have   
        been furnished by the petitioner to show as to how he is entitled to be given a
        higher pay or increments. The only document that appears to slightly favour the
        petitioner is Ext.-13, which is supposedly a pay slip, has been disputed by the
        respondents. A perusal of Ext.-13 shows that a name has been scratched out  
        and another added by pen and no  signature with seal recognizing the said   
        change is discernible. There is no seal and date, except for the month      
        “December” and the year “1989." This Court does not find any infirmity with the
        learned Labour Court not acting upon Ext.-13, as the genuineness of the     
        contents of the same is not proved. Though the learned Labour Court was to  
        make a finding with regard to Ext.-13, no finding has been made by it. The  
        earnings of the petitioner as per Ext.-13, which is the pay slip for December,
        1989, states as follows-                                                    
        “EARNINGS       FACTORS AMT-(Rs.) DEDUCTIONS    AMT-(Rs.)                   

                                                                  Page No.# 13/18   
        BASIC SALARY                390.00                                          
        DEARNESS ALLOWANCE      312.00   CO’S CONT. TO PPF 70.00                    
        HRA * 1                550.00   EMP’S CONT. TO PPF 230.00                   
        PPF COMPANY’S SHARE      70.00        INCOME TAX        0.00                
        FILED ALL              331.00                                               
        GEOGR BONUS 1.2        140.00                                               
        OVERTIME (NORMAL) 182.00 1,389.00                                           
        RFT-WST-TCP            450.00                --------------                 
        ANNUAL BONUS * 1       842.00   TOTAL DEDUCTIONS 300.00                     
                                               --------------                       
                       ------------------- **** NET PAY: 4,174.00                   
                GROSS EARNINGS 4,474.00 * PAYMENT METHOD-CHEQUE                     
        25.  The above shows that the basic salary of the petitioner was Rs.390/- and
        his DA was Rs.312/-. He was also entitled to HRA @Rs.550/- and field allowance
        of Rs.331/-. There cannot be payment for over time, in view of the fact that the
        petitioner never worked after his dismissal from service. There is also no  
        question of annual bonus or other bonuses being paid to the petitioner for the
        same reason. Further, the question of bonuses, overtime etc. cannot be an   
        everyday affair and would depend upon the actual work done. As such, this   
        Court does not find any infirmity in the learned Labour Court having accepted
        the computation of the petitioner’s back wages in terms of-                 

                                                                  Page No.# 14/18   
             1.      Basic                        390                               
             2.      DA                           312                               
             3.      HRA                          550                               
             4.     Field allowance             _331                                
              Total (per month)                 1583                                
        26.  As stated earlier, no other document is there to prove or compute the back
        wages payable to the petitioner, except the amounts indicated above.        
        27.  We have to realize that the appeal made to this Court against a judicial or
        quasi judicial Tribunal or body and the control exercised by this Court would be
        limited to a supervisory capacity. It cannot act as an appellate authority by
        reviewing or reweighing the evidence. In the case of Hari Bishnu Kamath     
        vs. Ahmed Ishaque  and Ors., reported in AIR 1955 SC 233, this Court held   
        in paragraph 21 and 23 as follows :                                         
             21. … On  these authorities, the following propositions may be taken as
             “                                                                      
             established: (1) Certiorari will be issued for correcting errors of    
             jurisdiction, as when an inferior Court or Tribunal acts without jurisdiction
             or in excess of it, or fails to exercise it. (2) Certiorari will also be issued
             when the court or Tribunal acts illegally in the exercise of its undoubted
             jurisdiction, as when it decides without giving an opportunity to the  
             parties to be heard, or violates the principles of natural justice. (3) The
             court issuing a writ of certiorari acts in exercise of a supervisory and not
             appellate jurisdiction. One consequence of this is that the court will not
             review findings of fact reached by the inferior court or tribunal, even if
             they be erroneous. This is on the principle that a court which has     
             jurisdiction over a subject-matter has jurisdiction to decide wrong as well
             as right, and when the legislature does not choose to confer a right of
             appeal against that decision, it would be defeating its purpose and policy,
             if a superior court were to rehear the case on the evidence, and substitute

                                                                  Page No.# 15/18   
             its own findings in certiorari. These propositions are well-settled and are
             not in dispute.                                                        
                       xxx            xxx            xxx                            
             23.  It may therefore be taken as settled that a writ of certiorari could be
             issued to correct an error of law. But it is essential that it should be
             something more than a  mere error; it must be one which must be        
             manifest on the face of the record. … The fact is that what is an error
             apparent on the face of the record cannot be defined precisely or      
             exhaustively, there being an element of indefiniteness inherent in its very
             nature, and it must be left to be determined judicially on the facts of each
             case.”                                                                 
                                           (Emphasis supplied)                      
        28.  In the case of Dharangadhara  Chemical  Works  Ltd. Vs. State of       
        Saurashtra and Ors., reported in AIR 1957 SC 264, the Supreme Court has     
        held that the decision of a Tribunal on a question of fact which it has jurisdiction
        to determine is not liable to be questioned in proceedings under Article 226 of
        the Constitution, unless at the least it is shown to be fully unsupported by
        evidence.                                                                   
        29.  In the case of Management  of Madurantakam    Coop. Sugar  Mills       
        Limited Vs. S. Viswanathan, reported in (2005) 3 SCC 193, the Supreme       
        Court in Para 12 held as follows:-                                          
                 12. Normally, the Labour Court or the Industrial Tribunal, as the case
                “                                                                   
             may be, is the final court of facts in these types of disputes, but if a
             finding of fact is perverse or if the same is not based on legal evidence

                                                                  Page No.# 16/18   
             the High Court exercising a power either under Article 226 or under Article
             227 of the Constitution can go into the question of fact decided by the
             Labour Court or the Tribunal. But before going into such an exercise it is
             necessary that the writ court must record reasons why it intends       
             reconsidering a finding of fact. In the absence of any such defect in the
             order of the Labour Court the writ court will not enter into the realm of
             factual disputes and finding given thereon.…”                          
        30.  In the case of Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences &    
        Another  vs. Bikartan Das &  Others, Civil Appeal No.3339/2023,   the       
        Supreme Court has held that there are two cardinal principles of law governing
        the exercise of extraordinary jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Constitution.
        The first being that when it comes to the issue of a writ of certiorari, the High
        Court does not exercise the powers of an Appellate Tribunal. It does not review
        or reweigh the evidence upon which the determination of the Tribunal purports
        to be based. It demolishes the order which it considers to be without jurisdiction
        or palpably erroneous, but does not substitute it’s own views for those of the
        Tribunal. A writ of certiorari can be issued if an error of law is apparent on the
        face of the record and the same being a prerogative writ, it should not be issued
        on the mere asking. The second cardinal principle is that even if some action or
        order challenged is found to be illegal and invalid, the High Court can refuse to
        upset it with a view to doing substantial justice between the parties under 
        Article 226, which is essentially discretionary, although founded on legal injury.
        31.  Paragraph 61  and 62  of the above  said judgment are reproduced       
        hereinbelow, as follows :                                                   
             61. At this stage, it may not be out of place to remind ourselves of the
             “                                                                      

                                                                  Page No.# 17/18   
             observations of this Court in Syed Yakoob (supra) on this point, which 
             are as follows:                                                        
                  Where  it is manifest or clear that the conclusion of law recorded by
                  “                                                                 
                  an inferior court or tribunal is based on an obvious misinterpretation
                  of the relevant statutory provision, or something in ignorance of it,
                  or may be even in disregard of it, or is expressly founded on reasons
                  which are wrong in law, the said conclusion can be corrected by a 
                  writ of certiorari. Certiorari would also not lie to correct mere errors
                  of fact even though such errors may be apparent on the face of the
                  record. The writ jurisdiction is supervisory and the court exercising it
                  is not to act as an appellate court. It is well settled that the writ
                  court would not re-appreciate the evidence and substitute its own 
                  conclusion of fact for that recorded by the adjudicating body, be it a
                  court or a tribunal. A finding of fact, howsoever erroneous, recorded
                  by a court or a tribunal cannot be challenged in proceedings for  
                  certiorari on the ground that the relevant and material evidence  
                  adduced before 52 the court or the tribunal was insufficient or   
                  inadequate to sustain the impugned finding. It is also well settled
                  that adequacy or sufficiency of evidence led on a point and the   
                  inference of fact to be drawn from the said finding are within the
                  exclusive jurisdiction of the tribunal and these points cannot be 
                  agitated before the writ court.”                                  
             62. In the aforesaid context, it will be profitable for us to refer to the
             decision of this Court in the case of Indian Overseas Bank v. I.O.B.   
             Staff Canteen Workers' Union  and Another, reported in AIR 2000        
             SC 1508. This Court observed as under:                                 
                     The findings of fact recorded by a fact-finding authority duly 
                  “…                                                                
                  constituted for the purpose and  which ordinarily should be       
                  considered to have become final, cannot be disturbed for the mere 
                  reason of having been based on materials or evidence not sufficient

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                  or credible in the opinion of the writ Court to warrant those findings
                  at any rate, as long as they are based upon such materials which  
                  are relevant for the purpose or even on the ground that there is yet
                  another view which can be reasonably and possibly undertaken. …”  
        32.  The above being said, the cross-examination of the petitioner shows that
        he has admitted to the fact that he does not have any document or mode of   
        calculation to back his claim that he is entitled to payment of back wages  
        amounting to more than Rs.2 Crores. The petitioner has not submitted any    
        document to back his claim that he is entitled to back wages of above Rs.2  
        Crores. He has also admitted in his cross-examination as follows:-          
            No calculation sheet backing my claim has been submitted.”              
           “                                                                        
             The Labour Court has accepted the computation of the petitioner’s wages
        only in respect of the Basic Pay, DA, HRA and Field Allowance.              
        33.  On considering the fact that this Court cannot act as an appellate authority
        unless the reasoning of the learned Labour Court is found to be perverse, this
        Court does not find any reason to interfere with the Award passed by the    
        learned Labour Court, in the absence of evidence/documents proving the case 
        of the petitioner that he is entitled to back wages above Rs.2 Crores.      
        34.  The writ petition is accordingly dismissed.                            
                                                         JUDGE                      
        Comparing Assistant