November 09, 2001

   In the first ever attempt of its kind, about 69 cases pending adjudication for long under Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 were settled amicably in the Lok Adalat here today. The settlements were made before the Presiding Officer, Central Government Industrial Tribunal with the association of Central Industrial Relations Machinery. The managements, of Northern Railway, Air India, Punjab National Bank and Standard Chartered Bank are some of the management’s who settled claims by making on-the-spot payment of about seventeen lakh rupees to the workmen as full and final settlement. The managements of CPWD, Punjab National Bank and Oriental bank of Commerce also agreed to reinstate the workmen back in service by settling the dispute in Lok Adalat. The management of All India Radio agreed to pay overtime allowance to its employees as the dispute had been pending for long.

    Speaking on the occasion the Labour Minister Shri Sharad yadav announced that five new Central Government Industrial Tribunals would be set up soon. One Tribunal each would be set up in Ahmedabad, Guwahati, and Ernakulam while Delhi and Chandigarh would have an additional bench. There are (as on 30.9.2001) more than 11,000 industrial dispute cases pending in the Central sphere. Shri Yadav said that second such Lok Adalat in the Central sphere would be held in Chandigarh soon. It is also envisaged to hold similar Lok Adalats at Kanpur, in Uttar Pradesh and at Jablapur Madhya Pradesh. The Director of the International Labour Organisation’s South Asia Multidisciplinary Advisory Team (SAAT). Shri A.S. Obrai louded the effort of settling industrial disputes through Lok Adalats. He said that he will apprise other nations about India’s experience in speedy disposal of cases through Lok Adalats.