- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:29734-DB WA No. 1603 of 2024 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 31ST DAY OF JULY, 2025 PRESENT THE HON'BLE MR. VIBHU BAKHRU, CHIEF JUSTICE AND THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE C M JOSHI WRIT APPEAL NO. 1603 OF 2024 (L-RES) BETWEEN: PRESS TRUST OF INDIA LIMITED, A COMPANY INCORPORATED UNDER THE COMPANIES ACT, 1956, HAVING ITS REGISTERED OFFICE AT PTI BUILDING, 4 PARLIAMENT STREET, NEW DELHI-110 001. THROUGH ITS BUREAU CHIEF BENGALURU BUREAU, MR. RAMNATH SHENOY. …APPELLANT (BY SRI NACHIKETH B JOSHI, ADVOCATE SRI B C PRABHAKAR, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE FEDERATION OF PTI EMPLOYEES' UNIONS, A TRADE UNION REGISTERED UNDER THE TRADE UNIONS ACT, 1926, HAVING ITS OFFICE AT NO.4, PARLIAMENT STREET, PTI BUILDING, NEW DELHI-110 001. THROUGH ITS GENERAL SECRETARY. 2. STATE OF KARNATAKA, THROUGH ITS SECRETARY LABOUR, DEPARTMENT OF LABOUR, Digitally signed by NANDINI R Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:29734-DB WA No. 1603 of 2024 M.S.BUILDING, DR.B.R.AMBEDKAR VEEDHI, BENGALURU-560 001. 3. THE LABOUR OFFICER, D.K SUB DIVISION NO.1, II FLOOR, PADVA HIGH SCHOOL, YEYYADI ROAD, SHARBATKATTE, KONCHADI POST, MANGALURU-575 009. 4. SHRI RAJESH KUMAR, ADVOCATE, 50, LGF, JUNGPURA EXTENSION, NEW DELHI-110 014. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI ZAID, ADVOCATE FOR SRI PAVAN KUMAR.G, ADVOCATE FOR R-1; SRI K.S HARISH, GOVT ADVOCATE FOR R-2; R-3 SERVED AND UNREPRESENTED; MS. MARY JAMES, ADVOCATE FOR MS. ANITHA ABRAHAM, ADVOCATE FOR R-4) THIS WRIT APPEAL IS FILED U/S 4 OF THE KARNATAKA HIGH COURT ACT PRAYING TO ACCEPT THE WRIT APPEAL AND CONSEQUENTLY SET ASIDE AND QUASH THE IMPUGNED JUDGMENT DATED 18-09-2024 PASSED BY THE LEARNED SINGLE JUDGE IN WRIT PETITION NUMBER 14445 OF 2024 (L- RES) TO THE EXTENT WHEREBY THE LEARNED SINGLE JUDGE WAS PLEASED TO STAY THE ENQUIRY PROCEEDING DURING THE PENDENCY OF THE APPLICATION DIRECTED TO BE FILED BY RESPONDENT No. 1. THIS APPEAL, COMING ON FOR FINAL HEARING, THIS DAY, JUDGMENT WAS DELIVERED THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. VIBHU BAKHRU, CHIEF JUSTICE and HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE C M JOSHI - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:29734-DB WA No. 1603 of 2024 ORAL JUDGMENT (PER: HON'BLE MR. VIBHU BAKHRU, CHIEF JUSTICE) 1. The Press Trust of India Limited [PTI] has filed the present appeal impugning an order dated 18.09.2024 passed by the learned Single Judge in W.P.No.14445/2024 (L-RES) NC:2024:KHC:38478. The respondent No.1 [Federation of PTI Employees' Unions] had filed the said writ petition impugning an endorsement dated 22.05.2024 passed by respondent No.3 [Labour Officer], whereby he had declined to issue any directions to the Enquiry Officer conducting the disciplinary enquiry against one Sri. Indukant Dixit, who was a member of respondent No.1-Union. 2. PTI had instituted an enquiry against Sri.Indukant Dixit and a charge sheet was served. Sri.Dixit had requested to engage the services of one Sri.M.J.Pandey. However, his request was declined. According to the PTI, the Charged Employee could be represented only by Office Bearer of the Federation or by a co-worker. - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:29734-DB WA No. 1603 of 2024 And, therefore, it was impermissible for the charged employee to avail the assistance of Sri.M.J.Pandey as a defence representative. 3. It is stated that the concerned charge employee had also thereafter sought services of another person to be represented, however, notwithstanding the same, a dispute was sought to be raised with regard to denial of his request for being represented by Sri.M.J.Pandey. 4. The learned Single Judge had disposed of the writ petition with the following directions: "9. In the facts and circumstances of the matter, the interim order granted by this Court is extended until consideration of such application by the Labour Court, if the petitioner files such application before the Labour Court within 15 days from the date of receipt of certified copy of this order, failing which, the interim order shall stand vacated. 10. If such application is filed as directed the Labour Court to dispose of the same within 90 days thereafter." 5. A plain reading of the impugned order indicates that respondent No.1-Union was granted liberty to approach the concerned Labor Court constituted under - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:29734-DB WA No. 1603 of 2024 the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 to seek an appropriate remedy. However, the interim order granted by the Court was extended till consideration of the application by the learned Labour Court. 6. This Court is informed that the Labour Court has since considered the dispute including the question whether the charged employee was entitled to engage Sri.Pandey as the Defence Representative. In the aforesaid circumstances, the impugned order stands exhausted and no orders are required to be passed in the present appeal. 7. The appeal is accordingly disposed of. We clarify all rights and contention to the parties are reserved. Sd/- (VIBHU BAKHRU) CHIEF JUSTICE Sd/- (C M JOSHI) JUDGE NR/-/List No.: 1 Sl No.: 73