U.P. Bridge Corp. Writ Dismissed, Rs2.5L Award

Authority: High Court of Bombay at Goa

Order Date: 22nd October 2026

Petitioner: M/S. U.P. State Bridge Corporation Ltd., represented by Deputy Project Manager Ashutosh Pandey.
Respondents: Yogendranath Yadav and five other workmen, represented by the Goa Trade and Commercial Workers Union and Advocate Sabina Martins.
The petition challenged an award dated 22 March 2018 (Reference No.IT/65/92) issued by the Industrial Tribunal and Labour Court, Government of Goa, which held the termination of the respondents on 14 May 1992 illegal and ordered monetary compensation of Rs.2,50,000 per workman, payable within 60 days of publication, with interest at 9% per annum on any delay.
Petitioner’s argument: The termination was for misconduct, not retrenchment; therefore Section 25‑F of the Industrial Disputes Act was inapplicable.
Respondents’ argument: The writ petition was filed six years after the award (in May 2024), constituting an unacceptable delay warranting rejection.
The Court observed that the petitioner, a government undertaking with an independent legal department, was aware of the award since 2018 and had sanctioned filing a writ petition, yet failed to act until 2024. The Court found this explanation insufficient to condone the six‑year delay.

The Court rejected the writ petition, stating that the inordinate delay and laches preclude invoking the extraordinary jurisdiction under Article 227 of the Constitution of India.
Consequently, Miscellaneous Civil Application No.2782 of 2026 (F) was disposed of, with nothing surviving therein.

Topics: Labor Law, Compensation Award