Authority: Bombay High Court, Division Bench of Justice Sandeep V. Marne
Order Date: 30 September 2026
Case Overview
- Petitioner: Mr. Tayaballi Mustafa Sayed
- Respondent: M/s. Bajaj Auto Limited
- Counsel for Petitioner: Mr. Vaibhav V. Ugle, assisted by Mr. Mohan Waghmode
- Nature of Petition: Writ petition (No. 12855 of 2024) challenging an award dated 18 September 1999 passed by the Presiding Officer, 3rd Labour Court in Reference (IDA) No. 221 1987.
- Background: The petitioner was terminated from employment on 18 June 1986. He filed the petition seeking removal of the stigma of termination after 38 years, now being 70 years old.
- Delay: The petition was filed 25 years after the award, constituting gross delay and laches.
Court Findings & Reasoning
- The court observed that the petitioner’s intention appeared to be removal of termination stigma, but the extensive delay undermines this claim.
- The court emphasized that a 25‑year delay and the petitioner’s advanced age (70 years) negate any equitable considerations.
- The doctrine of laches was applied, concluding that the petition could not be entertained due to the unreasonable lapse of time.
Final Outcome
- The writ petition is dismissed in its entirety.
- No relief or amendment to the 1999 award is granted.
- The dismissal order is signed digitally by Justice Sandeep V. Marne on 30 September 2026 at 15:29:00 IST.
Topics: Labour Law, Judicial Dismissal, Employment Termination