- 1 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010828382025 NC: 2026:KHC:48303 WP No. 38297 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 7TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE H.T. NARENDRA PRASAD WRIT PETITION NO. 38297 OF 2025 (L-RES) BETWEEN: M/S. EXPRESS PUBLICATIONS (MADURAI) PVT LTD (THE NEW INDIAN EXPRESS GROUP) EXPRESS BUILDING, NO.1 QUEEN'S ROAD, BENGALURU-560001 (REGISTERED UNDER THE COMPANIES ACT, 1956) REP. BY ITS SENIOR GENERAL MANAGER MR. P. SURESH KUMAR. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. K R ANAND., ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE ADDITIONAL LABOUR COMMISSIONER (INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS) OFFICE OF COMMISSIONER OF LABOUR KARMIKA BHAVANA, BANNERGHATTA ROAD BENGALURU-560029. 2. MR J. JOHN EDWARD C/O M. JESUVADIAN, NO.142 KAVERI NAGAR, 1ST CROSS 1ST FLOOR, VADDARAPALYA OPP NORTHWOOD, HORAMAVU (POST) BENGALURU-560043. 3. MR BALAJI SINGH C/O RAMA SINGH 115, 3RD CROSS Digitally signed by DHANALAKSHMI MURTHY Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010828382025 NC: 2026:KHC:48303 WP No. 38297 of 2025 MUNISHWARA VTC RAMAMURTHYNAGARA, P.O DOORAVANINAGARA BENGALURU-560016. 4. MR B.M. RAJEGOWDA S/O LATE MADE GOWDA NO.213, NEW BINNY LAYOUT BENGALURU-560023. 5. MR K. GOVINDARAJ C2703, HIMAMI TEJOMAYA 1 / 4A, RAJIBGANDI SALAI OMR EGATTUR KANCHEEPURAM CHENNAI-603103. 6. MR JAYARAM ANCHAN SINCE DEAD, REP. BY HIS LR SARASWATHI, P.O PITHRODY KALAIBAIL, UDYAVARA UDUDPI-574118. 7. MR S.G. CHANDRAPPA S/O LATE GOPALAPPA NO.20, 2ND FLOOR, 1ST MAIN ROAD SRIKANTESHWARA NAGARA NEAR ASHOK HEIGHTS MAHALAKSHMI LAYOUT BENGALURU-560096. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI.RAJKUMAR, AGA FOR R1: SRI L SHEKAR, ADVOCATE FOR R2 TO R7) THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLE 226 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO QUASH THE ORDER PASSED BY R-1 IN NO. ADLC/IDA/IAA-25/2025 DATED: 29.11.2025 AS PER ANNEXURE-G THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING IN ‘B’ GROUP, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: - 3 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010828382025 NC: 2026:KHC:48303 WP No. 38297 of 2025 CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE H.T. NARENDRA PRASAD ORAL ORDER 1. This writ petition is filed under Article 226 and 227 of the Constitution of India challenging the order dated 29.11.2025 passed by respondent No.1 vide Annexure-G under Section 29 of Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 (for short ‘the Act’). 2. Brief facts of the case are that respondent Nos.2 to 7 were employees/workmen working in the petitioner- private limited company. They have been terminated from service. Being aggrieved by the Termination Order dated 07.01.2009, the said respondents raised an industrial dispute before the Industrial Tribunal in ID-77/2009. The Industrial Tribunal, by order dated 28.04.2017, allowed the dispute and directed the petitioner herein to reinstate the respondents-workmen and pay the arrears of salary with all consequential benefits. The same has attained finality. - 4 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010828382025 NC: 2026:KHC:48303 WP No. 38297 of 2025 Since the award dated 28.04.2017 has not been implemented, respondent Nos.2 to 7 herein approached respondent No.1-Additional Labour Commissioner under Section 29 of the Act. By the impugned order, respondent No.1 passed the order dated 29.11.2025. In the meantime, respondent Nos.2 to 7 filed applications under Section 33C(2) of the Act before the Labour Court in Application Nos.6/2026 to 11/2026. The same are pending consideration. Some of the workmen, who are similarly situated to the respondents-workmen herein, have also filed a contempt petition before this Court in Civil Contempt Petition No.1316/2025. The Division Bench of this Court, on 19.08.2026, disposed of the contempt petition permitting the complainants to pursue their remedy under the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947. The operative portion of the order in the said contempt petition at paragraph No.3 is extracted below: - 5 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010828382025 NC: 2026:KHC:48303 WP No. 38297 of 2025 “3. That being the case, it is for the complainants to pursue their remedy under the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, before the Competent Labour Court / Industrial Tribunal, seeking their remedy for realization of the dues, pursuant to the adjudication in the awards.” 3. In the present case, the respondent Nos.2 to 7 have already approached the Labour Court by filing applications invoking Section 33C(2) of the Act, and the applications are pending consideration. 4. In view of the above. I am of the opinion that the liberty may be reserved to the respondent Nos.2 to 7 to pursue their applications pending before the Labour Court. Accordingly, the following order is passed: ORDER a) The writ petition is disposed of. b) The respondent Nos.2 to 7 are directed to pursue their Application Nos.6 to 11/2026 pending before the Labour Court, in accordance with law. - 6 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010828382025 NC: 2026:KHC:48303 WP No. 38297 of 2025 c) The Labour Court is directed to dispose of the said applications, as expeditiously as possible, not later than 6 months from the date of receipt of copy of this order. d) Both the parties are directed to co-operate for early disposal of the applications. e) All the contentions of the parties are left open. f) In view of the above, the impugned order does not survive for consideration. Sd/- (H.T. NARENDRA PRASAD) JUDGE HA LIST NO.: 1 SL NO.: 47