SC seeks response from Bombay Iron Labour board

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has sought a response from Bombay Iron & Steel Labour Board on petitions by various companies including Pantaloon Retail (India) Ltd seeking a stay on compulsory hiring of workers for manual jobs like loading and stacking from a centralised board.

A bench comprising Justice Tarun Chatterjee and Justice PK Balasubramanyam while issuing notice to the Board last week posted the matter for disposal on April 24.

Various firms and bodies like Pantaloon, Bhuwalka Steel Industries and Steel Re-Rollers Association of Maharashtra had challenged the Board's decision to 'thrust workers' on them under Maharashta Mathadi, Hamal and other Manual Workers
(Regulation of Employment and Welfare) Act, 1969.

The Act was framed for regulating employment of unprotected manual workers engaged in scheduled employment areas like loading, unloading and stacking in Maharashtra.

According to them, the Bombay High Court's order of August 30, 2006 terming 'unprotected workmen' to mean manual workers was contrary to the objectives of the Act and would cover only casually employed workmen in scheduled employment.

"Such an interpretation of the term 'unprotected workmen' would make the Act unconstitutional as it would duly interfere with the rights of the employer to carry on business with his own and direct employees," the Association said in its plea.