Charan Singh v. Birla Textiles & Anr.

Judgment

The Judgment of the Court was delivered by RANGANATH MISRA, J. The short question in this appeal by special leave is whether the appellaut-workman was entitled to interest on the gratuity due to him under the provisions of the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972 (39 of 1972). Appellant joined service under Respondent No. 1 in April 1944 and was relieved from service on his resignation with ~ifect from 24. 5. 1983. The employer did not determine the amoum ;if gratuity payable to the appellant as required under Section 7(2) of the Act. On 7 .6.1983, the appellant furnished an application in Form-I for payment of gratuity but no action was taken by the employer; then appellant approached the >tatutory controlling authority for determination of the amount of gratuity and requested that on the sum due interest may be paid. The employer contested the claim both in regard to gratuity as also interst.

On 3.12.1984, the controlling authority determined the amount of gratuity at Rs.16,380 and directed the Respondent No. 1 to pay the same along with compound interest of 9 per cent. Thereupon [1988] Supp. 2 S.C.R. Respondent No. 1 challenged the order before the appellate Authority. The appellate Authority affirmed the determination of gratuity but set aside the ordi!r for payment of interest. We have heard learned counsel for both parties in regard to payability of interest. Relevant portions of section 7 of the Act, as it stood in 1983, when the cause of action arose, may now be extracted: "7: Determination of the amount of gratuity: ( 1) A person who is eligible for payment of gratuity under this Act or any person authorised, in writing, to act on his behalf shall send a written application to the employer, within such time and in such form, as may be prescribed, for payment of such gratuity. (2)

As soon as gratuity becomes payable, the employer shall, whether an application referred to in sub-section (1) has been made or not, determine the amount of gratuity and give notice in writing to the person to ·whom the gratuity is payable and also to the controlling authority specifying the amount of gratuity so determined; (3)The employer shall arrange to pay the amount of gratuity, within such time as may be prescribed, to the person to whom the gratuity is payable; (4) (a) If there is any dispute as to the amount of gratuity payable to an employee under this Act or as to the admissibility of any claim of, in relation to, an employee for payment of gratuity, or as to the person entitled to receive the gratuity, the employer shall deposit with the controlling authority such amount as he admits to be payable by him as gratuity. Explanation:

Where there is a dispute with regard to any matter specified in this clause the employee may make an application to the controlling authority for taking such action as is specified in clause (b). (b) ............................................... '. w ................................................ . CHARAN SINGH v. BIRLA TEXTILES !MISRA, J.] (5) (6) (7) Sec. 8: Reqovery of gratuity: If the amount ofgratuity Pl!Y- able under this Act is not paid by the employer, within the prescribed time, to the person entitled thereto, the controlling authority shall, on an application made to it in this behalf by the aggrieved person, issue a certificate for that amount to the Collector, who shall recover the same, together with compound interest thereon at the rate of nine per cent per annum, from the date of expiry of the prescribed time, as arrears of laqd reve11u.e aqd p~y the same to the person centitl~d thereto."

The provisions of Section 7 have been amended twice, first by Act 25. of 1984 with effect from 1. 7 .1<)84 and again by Act 22 of 1987. Th!' q 1987 Amendment has subsituted sub-section (3) and added sub-section (JA) in Section 7 to the followin"g effect:" "(3) The employer shall arrange to pay the amount of gratuity within thirty days from the d!!te it becomes payable to the person to whom the gratuity is payable. (3A) If ti)e amount of gr~tuity payable under su.b-sectio11 (3) is not paid by ti)~ emp!<;>yer wi\hin the p~riod spe£ifi~cj in sub,se~ti0n (3), th~ ~111ployer shall pay, from the d~te 011 which the gratuity becomes payabl~ to ti)!' date on whjch it is paid, simple in\er~st at such rat!', not exceeding th~ r~te f notified by the Central Government from time to till1e, repayment of long term deposits, as that Governmeµt may, by notification specify ...............

" .The controlling authority had directed 'interest as ·provided in Sectiort 8 to be paid which the Appellate Authority had vacated. From the facts of the case, it is clear that the stage for action under section 8 had not been reached inasmuch the appellant had not applied for recovery of gratuity to the Collector. It is only when the Collector issues a certificate for recovery of the 1:lues as a public deiµand tha\ interest as provided under Section 8 is admissible. [1988) Supp. 2 S.C.R. There was no provision in the Act for payment of interest when the same was quantified by the controlling authority and before the Collector was approached for its realisation. In fact, it is on the acceptance of the position that there was a lacuna in the law that Act 22 of 1987 brought about the incorporation of sub-section (3A) in Section 7. That provision has prospective application.

L"arned counsel for the appellant tried to rely upon the. provisions of the Interest Act and the provisions of Section 34 of the Code of Civil Procedure. We do not find any support for the appellant's stand from either of the provisions. Admittedly, no notice was given demanding interest and the controlling authority is not a court for falling back on Section 34 of the Code. We are satisfied in the facts of the case that the appellant was not entitled to interest on the amount of gratuity found due to him. Since that was the only matter agitated in. the appeal with the conclusion indicated, this appeal has to fail and is dismissed. There would be no order for costs. G.N. Appeal dismissed.