Payment of Bonus Amend Act 2015 - Glance of Stay Orders granted by Kerala and other High Courts

COURT ORDER FOR STAYING IN THE BONUS AMENDMENT FROM RETROSPECTIVE EFFECT
SR NO.	NAME OF THE COURT	ORDER	DATE OF ORDER	PETITIONERS	RESPONDENTS
1	High Court of Karnataka	In the Meanwhile the impugned notification at Annexure A shall stand stayed in so far as the retrospective effect of the implementation provided therein. It is clarified that the amendment will take effect only from financial year 2015 2016 onwards.	02.02.2016	Karnataka Employees Association & another	Union of India & Secretary to the Government of India
2	High Court Kerala	Order - Amendment to the extent it gives retrospective effect from 01.04.2014 is hereby stayed. In other words shall be implemented from 2015-16 pending disposal of the writ petition. This is with reference to applicability of the interim order by Kerala High Court in United Planters’ Association of Southern India and another vs. Union of India, vide WP(C) No.3025/2016(C) dated 27.1.2016 and also by Karnataka High Court in Karnataka Employers Association and another, WP No.5272 & 5311/2016 dated 2.2.2016, both the High Courtshave stayed the Amendment to the Payment of Bonus Act to the extent it gives the retrospective effect from 1.4.2014. It is pertinent to state that an order passed in a writ petition by any High Court questioning the constitutional validity of a Parliamentary Act whether interim or final, keeping in view the provisions contained in Clause (2) of Art.226 of the Constitution of India, it will have effect throughout the territory of India. In this context it is pertinent to refer to the judgment of Supreme Court in M/s. Kusum Ingots and Alloys Ltd. vs. Union of India and another, AIR 2004 SC 2321 wherein it has been held that : The Court must have the requisite territorial jurisdiction. An order passed on writ petition questioning the constitutionality of a Parliamentary Act whether interim or final keeping in view the provisions contained in clause (2) of Art.226 of the Constitution of India, will have effect throughout the territory of India subject of course to the applicability of the Act. However, the second part (section 12 of the Payment of Bonus Act) of the amendment, for the words “three thousand and five hundred rupees” at both the places where they occur, the words “seven thousand rupees or the minimum wages for the scheduled employment, as fixed by the appropriate Government, whichever is higher” shall respectively be substitutedis yet to be challenged since this aspect has not been stayed by Karnataka High Court although it was specifically taken up in the writ petition.	27.01.2016	The United Planters Association of Southern India & another	Union of India & Secretary to the Government of India
3	Allahabad Court - Chief Justice Court	The submission is that as a result of the retrospective amendment, the   financial   liability   of   the   employer   would   have   to   be recomputed and would be enhanced in respect of a period where a deposit has already been made in compliance of the provisions of Section 19(b) even before the assent of the President was received on   31   December   2015.   Hence,   it   has   been   urged   that   the retrospective amendment is arbitrary and violative of Article 14 for the reason that it casts an unforseen liability on the employer. In   our   view,   the   submission   does   warrant   consideration.   The attention   of   the   Court   has   been   drawn   to   the   fact   that   a   learned Single Judge of the High Court of Karnataka has entertained a writ petition [Karnataka Employees Association vs. Union of India (Writ   Petition   No.5272/2016   (L-MW)   &   5311/2016)]  and   has issued   an   interim   order   to   the   effect   that   the   amendment   would take effect only from the financial year 2015-16. In   our   view,   the   ends   of   justice   would   be   met   if   a   direction   is issued to the effect that no coercive steps shall be taken against the petitioner in respect of any period prior to 31 March 2015	15.03.2016	Benara Udyog Ltd.	Union of India & Secretary to the Government of India
4	MadhyaPradesh High Court	In the Meanwhile the impugned notification at Annexure A shall stand stayed in so far as the retrospective effect of the implementation provided therein. It is clarified that the amendment will take effect only from financial year 2015 2016 onwards.	04.02.2016