Authority: High Court of Judicature at Madras

Order Date: 21.08.2026

Case Overview

  • Parties: Appellant – The Management of Dynamatics Technologies Limited (JKM Automotive); Respondent – Mr. T. Balachandar, former “Operator Trainee” and later permanent employee of the appellant.
  • Proceedings: Writ Appeal No.3551 of 2023 and C.M.P.No.29035 of 2023 filed under Clause 15 of the Letters Patent to set aside the order dated 16.10.2023 passed in W.P.No.17632 of 2018.
  • Background: Mr. Balachandar joined as Operator Trainee on 19.05.1999 with a stipend of Rs.1,750/‑, became permanent on 10.12.2000. On 11.06.2014 the appellant asked him not to report for duty from 13.06.2014 due to a recession in the automobile market, while continuing to pay his salary.
  • Training Directive: The management issued a letter dated 05.07.2014 directing Mr. Balachandar to undergo a three‑month skill‑development programme at Nettur Technical Training Foundation (NTTF), Dharwad, covering Manufacturing Technology, CNC Technology, Behavioural Skills and Personality Development. Subsequent reminder letters dated 10.07.2014, 23.08.2014, 04.10.2014 and 01.12.2014 reiterated the order.
  • Employee’s Claim: Mr. Balachandar alleged that he was denied employment and that wages of Rs.29,780/‑ per month were not paid in full from July 2014 to May 2015. He filed a claim petition seeking direction to pay the said wages.
  • Labour Court Award: The I Additional Labour Court, after hearing both sides, ordered the appellant to pay the monthly salary of Rs.29,780/‑ from July 2014 to May 2015, deducting the amount already paid for July (Rs.10,060/‑). The award was dated 22.12.2017 in C.P.No.332 of 2015.
  • High Court’s Earlier Decision: The learned Single Judge dismissed the management’s writ petition and confirmed the Labour Court award.
  • Grounds of Appeal: The management contended that the recession and the training order were not properly considered, arguing that Mr. Balachandar’s refusal to report for training rendered the claim unsustainable.

Final Outcome

  • The Madras High Court, by a majority of Justices Dr. G. Jayachandran and Mr. E. Manoharan, dismissed the writ appeal, upheld the I Additional Labour Court’s award, and ordered no costs.
  • The connected miscellaneous petition was also closed.

Topics: Labour Law, Industrial Dispute