Question : CREATION OF INDUSTRIAL TRIBUNAL

(a) whether the Union Government propose to constitute more Central Industrial Tribunal and Labour Courts;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether his ministry has informed the Delhi High Court in May, 2001 about it;

(d) if so, the details thereof indicating the latest position of the proposal;

(e) whether the condition of labour courts in the country is deplorable particularly in Delhi as large number of cases are still pending therein;

(f) if so, the details thereof, State-wise;
(g) whether the post of presiding officers in most of the courts and tribunals are not being filled up since long time;
(h) if so, the reasons therefor; and
(i) the remedial steps proposed to be taken by the Government to improve the working of labour courts?

MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT ( SHRI MUNI LALL )

(a): Yes, Sir.

(b): New CGIT-cum-Labour Courts in Ahmedabad, Guwahati, Ernakulam and additional benches in Delhi and Chandigarh.

(c): Yes, sir. The Delhi High Court was informed about the setting up of an additional bench of CGIT-cum-Labour Court in New Delhi in June, 2001 in a writ petition filed in the High Court, Delhi by Shri Ajay Bhatnagar.

(d) The Standing Finance Committee has approved the proposal and action has already been initiated to obtain the approval of the various competent authorities regarding technical aspects, e.g. creation of post of Presiding Officer etc.

(e): The overall pendency position in the CGIT-cum-Labour Courts situated all over the country while not deplorable is not satisfactory either. The pendency position of the cases in the CGIT-cum-Labour Court, Delhi is at Annexure.


(f): A statement is annexed.

(g) & (h): No, Sir. The posts of Presiding Officers are lying vacant in four CGIT-cum-Labour Courts only. Action to fill in two of them has already been completed while the same in the other two is at an advanced stage.


(i): (1) The need to reduce pendency of Industrial Dispute cases in the Central Government Industrial Tribunal-cum-Labour Courts is impressed upon the Presiding Officers by taking up the matter with them from time to time.

(2) Expeditious steps are being taken to fill up the vacant posts of Presiding Officers in the Central Government Industrial Tribunal-cum-Labour Courts after observing all necessary formalities.

(3) A meeting of all Presiding Officers was held on 24th and 25th May, 2001 in which the need to improve the working of labour courts was emphasised.

(4) Departmental manual of procedure for use of Presiding Officers of CGIT-cum-Labour Courts has been finalised. It is expected that this manual would be useful for the Presiding Officers to dispose of cases quickly.