Year on, Bathinda labour court still non-functional

Sameer Singh

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, January 20

Litigants have been suffering as hearing of cases is not taking place at the labour court (industrial tribunal) in Bathinda for the past one year.

After the Additional Sessions Judge retired in January 2020, no new appointment or transfer took place, leading to piling up of cases. There are more than 900 cases pending in the labour court in Bathinda that caters to seven south Malwa districts, and no new cases are being filed.

Litigants from Bathinda, Faridkot, Muktsar, Fazillka, Ferozepur, Moga and Mansa file cases in the labour court at Bathinda. The reader at the court said daily 30 to 35 cases were being given dates of hearing that were one to two months away.

Sham Lal Jindal, a labour law consultant, said, “Litigants keep asking us when the new judge will be sent here. New cases can’’’’t be filed as hearing is not taking place in the absence of the judge. I have many cases pertaining to non-payment of salary from Bathinda, Muktsar and Moga, while other advocates have cases related to job termination and other industrial disputes. Our work has also been affected for the past one year.”

Advocate Ashok Bharti, who takes up cases filed at the labour court, said, “We request the High Court of Punjab and Haryana to appoint the judge at the court or transfer somebody here, so that litigants do not suffer and their cases can be heard and settled soon. Many litigants keep enquiring about their cases over phone calls. Some visit in the hope of speedy redressal.”

Deputy Commissioner B Srinivasan said, “I will take up the matter with authorities concerned and try to get it resolved on priority.”