Industrial Jurisprudence A Critical Commentary

Industrial Jurisprudence: A Critical Commentary by Prof EM Rao is the first work of its kind in the world on the principles of jurisprudence and interpretation of labour statutes. This book is exhaustive and covers the principles of industrial adjudication and their evolution in India, UK, USA and Australia. The author analyses the legislative and judicial trends against the backdrop of the principles of jurisprudence, such as rights, powers, duties, liabilities, immunities, etc, and also from the standpoint of the canons of statutory construction. Needless to say, this book is extremely comprehensive in so far as several judicial decisions and approaches to issues falling within the ambit of labour law have been subjected to detailed critical analysis illustratively coupled with drawing of appropriate analogies and comparisons from other branches of law. Judicial decisions have been critically examined from the standpoint of the principles of jurisprudence and of interpretation of statutes. This book will undoubtedly be of immense assistance to lawyers, judicial fraternity at all levels, Personnel / HR Managers, academics and students of law, personnel management and industrial relations.

Preface ..................................................................................................... vii
Contents .................................................................................................... ix
Table of Cases .......................................................................................... xiii
Shortened Titles of Acts ............................................................................. xlv
Abbreviations .......................................................................................... xlix
Law Reports ............................................................................................... li
CHAPTER 1
Industrial Jurisprudence—Introduction ........................................ 1
JURISPRUDENCE .............................................................................. 1
INDUSTRIAL JURISPRUDENCE ............................................................ 6
CONSTITUTION OF INDIA AND LABOUR LAW .................................. 13
INDUSTRIAL ADJUDICATION ........................................................... 28
JUDICIAL REVIEW ......................................................................... 42
CHAPTER 2
Employment Relationship ........................................................... 89
THE CONCEPT OF EMPLOYMENT ................................................... 89
CONTRACT LABOUR SYSTEM ........................................................ 101
TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT ............................................................. 111
WAGES ...................................................................................... 121
MINIMUM WAGE ....................................................................... 123
FAIR WAGE ............................................................................... 128
LIVING WAGE ............................................................................ 142
ALLOWANCES ............................................................................. 145
CONDITIONS OF WORK—BENEFITS AND FACILITIES ..................... 153
BONUS ...................................................................................... 160
Table of Cases
CHAPTER 3
Termination of Employment ......................................................173
EMPLOYMENT SECURITY .............................................................. 173
TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT .................................................. 179
TERMINATION (OTHER THAN DISMISSAL) .................................... 190
DISMISSAL FOR AN ACT OF MISCONDUCT .................................... 217
DISCIPLINARY ACTION AND DOMESTIC ENQUIRY .......................... 237
CRIMINAL VERSUS DEPARTMENTAL PROCEEDING ........................... 253
CHAPTER 4
Rights .........................................................................................267
GENERAL ................................................................................... 267
RIGHTS OF EMPLOYER ................................................................. 271
RIGHTS OF WORKMEN ................................................................ 336
RIGHTS OF TRADE UNIONS AND MEMBERS ................................... 374
CHAPTER 5
Powers and Immunities..............................................................381
THE CONCEPT OF POWER........................................................... 381
POWERS OF GOVERNMENT .......................................................... 382
POWERS OF COURTS AND TRIBUNALS ........................................... 402
POWERS OF STATUTORY AUTHORITIES ........................................... 442
BODIES CREATED BY STATUTE ...................................................... 447
IMMUNITIES ............................................................................... 449
CHAPTER 6
Duties and Liabilities .................................................................457
TORT AND LIABILITY .................................................................. 495
VICARIOUS LIABILITY .................................................................. 521
BURDEN OF PROOF .................................................................... 527
REMEDY AND RELIEF ................................................................... 542
CHAPTER 7
Canons of Construction—General ............................................561
INTRODUCTION ......................................................................... 561
AIDS TO CONSTRUCTION ............................................................ 564

BENEFICIAL VIS-À-VIS RESTRICTIVE CONSTRUCTION ....................... 584
RULES AND MAXIMS OF CONSTRUCTION ...................................... 602
GENERAL PRINCIPLES AND DOCTRINES ......................................... 627
GENERAL PRINCIPLES .................................................................. 648
CHAPTER 8
The Interpretation of Definitions ..............................................663
THE ESSENCE OF A DEFINITION ................................................... 663
APPRENTICE ............................................................................... 673
APPROPRIATE GOVERNMENT ........................................................ 674
AWARD ..................................................................................... 687
CONTINUOUS SERVICE ................................................................ 688
EMPLOYER ................................................................................. 689
FACTORY ................................................................................... 694
IMMEDIATE EMPLOYER ................................................................. 695
INDUSTRY .................................................................................. 696
INDUSTRIAL DISPUTE .................................................................. 705
LAYOFF, LOCKOUT AND CLOSURE ................................................. 711
NEWSPAPER AND WORKING JOURNALIST ...................................... 713
OCCUPIER VIS-À-VIS OWNER ....................................................... 715
RETRENCHMENT ......................................................................... 716
SHOP, ESTABLISHMENT AND COMMERCIAL ESTABLISHMENT ............. 731
SETTLEMENT .............................................................................. 733
STRIKE ...................................................................................... 737
WAGES ...................................................................................... 738
WORKMAN, EMPLOYEE, WORKER AND SUPERVISOR ........................ 741
CHAPTER 9
Words and Phrases .....................................................................753
EXPRESSION VERSUS MEANING .................................................... 753
EMPLOYEES PROVIDENT FUND ACT 1952 (EPF AND MPA) .......... 763
EQUAL REMUNERATION ACT 1976 .............................................. 768
EMPLOYEES’ STATE INSURANCE ACT 1948 ...................................... 769
FACTORIES ACT 1948 ................................................................ 771
INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES ACT 1947 ................................................. 774
(IDA; BIRA; CPBIDSA; UPIDA; MRTU AND PULPA; IDATA) ............... 774
INDUSTRIAL EMPLOYMENT STANDING ORDERS ACT 1946 .............. 806

MINIMUM WAGES ACT 1948 ...................................................... 809
PAYMENT OF BONUS ACT 1965 ................................................... 811
PAYMENT OF WAGES ACT 1936 ................................................... 813
TRADE UNIONS ACT 1926 ......................................................... 817
WORKMENS’ COMPENSATION ACT 1923 ...................................... 819
CHAPTER 10
Judicial Disposition ....................................................................831
GENERAL ................................................................................... 831
JUDICIAL PRECEDENT ................................................................. 843
CONSISTENCY AND PREDICTABILITY .............................................. 859
INTELLECTUAL HONESTY ............................................................. 870
THE ‘MISCHIEF’ RULE ................................................................ 879
THE RULE OF HARD CASES ......................................................... 881
JUDICIAL CAPRICE ...................................................................... 886
REDUCTIO AD ABSURDUM ........................................................... 902
RATIO DECIDENDI AND OBITER DICTA ........................................ 905
VALUE LOADING ........................................................................ 915
JUDICIAL IMPERIALISM ................................................................. 919
Index .................................................................................................. 937