Delhi HC Directs Not To Shift 2 Central Govt Industrial Tribunals From Rouse Avenue To Dwarka On A Plea By Labour Law Association

The Delhi High Court while dealing with a batch of two writ petitions filed by the Labour Law Association has directed the authorities not to shift two Central Government Industrial Tribunals (CGITs) from Rouse Avenue to Dwarka.

The aforesaid petitioner argued before the court that relocating two CGITs from Rouse Avenue Courts Complex, where there are other labour courts as well, will cause great inconvenience to lawyers and litigants.

A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Sanjeev Narula ordered, “Let notice be issued to GNCTD. Mr. Tripathi accepts notice on behalf of the GNCTD. He prays for 4 weeks’ time to file a counter-affidavit. Petitioner shall file amended memo of parties within 2 weeks from today. … Learned counsel for the High Court of Delhi shall also file a counter-affidavit furnishing their comments specifically on the issue whether the Rouse Avenue Courts Complex have adequate space for Labour Courts and Tribunals situated therein. … In the interim, the respondents are directed not to shift the 2 CGITs to any other place until further orders.”

Advocate Rajiv Agarwal appeared on behalf of the petitioner while Senior Counsel Santosh Kumar Tripathi appeared on behalf of GNCTD.

The case related to shifting of two Central Government Industrial Tribunals cum Labour Courts (CGIT) from Rouse Avenue Courts complex to Shramev Jayate Bhawan, Dwarka. It was brought to the notice of the Court by the counsel for the petitioner association that, at present, the Government of NCT of Delhi had set up 10 Labour Courts and 3 Industrial Tribunals which were housed at Rouse Avenue Courts Complex along with two CGIT’s.

It was stated that the Centre took a decision to shift two CGITs from Rouse Avenue Courts Complex to Shramev Jayate Bhawan, Dwarka and by shifting the same, the lawyers and litigants (workmen) would be put to great inconvenience as they would have to shuttle between Rouse Avenue Courts Complex and Dwarka for their matters.

The High Court in the above context said, “During the course of the hearing, it was put forth to the learned Counsel for Union of India whether all Labour Courts, Industrial Tribunals and CGITs can be shifted to one accommodation as there is a space crunch at Rouse Avenue Courts Complex. To this, learned Counsel for the Union of India states that the 10 Labour Courts and 3 Industrial Tribunals are within the domain of the Government of NCT of Delhi (GNCTD) and any decision to shift the same would require the GNCTD to be impleaded as a party.”

Accordingly, the High Court listed the case for further hearing on October 5, 2023.

Cause Title- Labour Law Association v. Union of India & Anr.

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