: 1 : IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA CIRCUIT BENCH AT DHARWAD DATED THIS THE 09 th DAY OF JANUARY, 2013 BEFORE THE HON’BLE MR.JUSTICE N.ANANDA WRIT PETITION NO.3123 OF 2004 [L-PG] BETWEEN: 1. ISHWAR S/O GANGAPPA PAWAR AGE:49 YRS, R/O KALGA VILLAGE KHANAPUR TALUK, BELGAUM 2. YALLAPA S/O GENAPPA KAMRATWADKAR Age:49 YEARS, R/O SHEDEGALLI, POST MANTURGA KHANAPUR, BELGAUM 3. NINGAPPA S/O MARYAPPA AGE:53 YRS, R/O KARALGA KHANAPUR TALUK, BELGAUM 4. MAHADEV S/O HANUMANTH PATIL AGE:49 YRS, R/O WADDEBAIL CHAPAGAON, KHANAPUR TALUK BELGAUM 5. KALLELSHI S/O LAXMAN SHIVATANKAR R/O TOPINAKATTI KHANAPUR TALUK, BELGAUM : 2 : 6. BABU S/O GENEPPA KUMRUTAWADKAR AGE:51 YRS, R/O SHEDEGALLI MANTURGE, KHANAPUR, BELGAUM 7. FRANCIS S/O KUSTYAV FERNANDIS AGE:63 YRS, R/O MANSAPUR KHANAPUR TALUK, BELGAUM 8. NAMDEV S/O GANESH KUTRE AGE:54 YRS, R/O SHENDOLLI TIVOLI POST, KHANAPUR TALUK BELGAUM 9. VISHWANATH S/O YALLAPPA KUTRE Age:54 YEARS, R/O LALWADI HEBBAL, KHANAPUR TALUK BELGAUM 10. NINGAPPA S/O RAMU NILAJKAR Age:57 YEARS, R/O EDOGA LOKOLLI POST, KHANAPUR TALUK BELGAUM 11. SHANKAR S/O PARASHURAM BELGAONKAR AGE:51 YRS, R/O HALKARNI KHANAPUR POST & TALUK, BELGAUM 12. SATERI S/O TANAPPA GAVALKAR AGE:55 YRS, R/O HUNAKAL KARBAL, KHANAPUR TALUK BELGAUM 13. RAVIKANT S/O APPA HALDANKAR AGE:54 YRS, R/O STATION ROAD KHANAPUR TALUK, BELGAUM : 3 : 14. TUKARAM S/O YALLAPPA MADAR Age:57 YEARS, R/O HARIJAN GALLI KHANAPUR TALUK, BELGAUM 15. BHARAMANI S/O KRISHNA PATIL AGE:57 YRS, R/O WADDEBAIL POST CHAPAGAON, KHANAPUR BELGAUM 16. YALLAPPA S/O.SRI KALU THOMBARE AGED ABOUT 59 YEARS R/AT.RAMAGURAWADI TQ.KHANAPUR, BELGAUM 17. PUNNAPPA S/O.SRI.NAGAPPA KULAM AGED ABOUT 51 YEARS R/AT.RAMAGURWADI, TQ.KHANAPUR, BELGAUM 18. BALU S/O LAXMAN HANGIRKAR Age:55 YEARS, R/O EDOGA LOKOLI POST, KHANAPUR TALUK BELGAUM 19. GANESH S/O PARASHURAM SWITANKAR Age:57 YEARS, R/O HARURI POST: MANTURGE, KHANAPUR TALUK BELGAUM 20. SHANTAWAPPA KUMANNA GODHOLKAR AGED ABOUT 54 YEARS R/AT.HARURI, POST.MANTURGE TQ.KHANAPUR, BELGAUM 21. BALAKRISHNA S/O.SRI.BABU PATIL AGED ABOUT 55 YEARS R/AT.BACHOLI, POST.RAMAGURWADI : 4 : TQ.KHANAPUR, BELGAUM 22. NINGAPPA S/O.SRI.HANAMANT GHADI AGED ABOUT 53 YEARS R/AT.KARALGA, TQ.KHANAPUR, BELGAUM 23. SHRIKANT S/O CHIMAJI GAWADE AGE:51 YRS, R/O KENCHAPUR GALLI KHANAPUR, BELGAUM 24. BHAVATISH S/O BASTYAV ALMEDA AGE:51 YRS, R/O LALWADI HEBBAL POST, KHANAPUR TALUK BELGAUM 25. ANTON S/O BASTYAV ALMEDA AGE:54 YRS, R/O ZAD NAVAGA, POST HEBBAL KHANAPUR TALUK, BELGAUM 26. RUKMANNA S/O.SRI.EMANNA SHIRDE AGED ABOUT 53 YEARS R/AT.SHENDOLLI TQ.KHANAPUR, BELGAUM 27. VENKAT S/O.SRI.NILKANTH CHOUGLE AGED ABOUT 52 YEARS R/AT.HALKARNI, TQ.KHANAPUR BELGAUM 28. RAMU S/O NINGAPPA KODCHAWADKAR AGE:57 YRS, R/O HARURI MANTURGA POST, KHANAPUR TALUK BELGAUM 29. ANANT S/O VENKAT PATIL AGE:51 YRS, R/O GIRLGUNJI : 5 : KHANAPUR TALUK, BELGAUM 30. PIRAJI S/O.SRI.NARAYAN KADAM AGED ABOUT 51 YEARS R/AT.NIDAGAL, POST.GIRLGUNJI TQ.KHANAPUR, BELGAUM 31. SHANKAR S/O.SRI.GOVIND PATIL AGED ABOUT 54 YEARS R/AT.NINGAPUR GALLI KHANAPUR, BELGAUM 32. PARASHURAM S/O.SRI.PUNNAPPA BEDARA AGED ABOUT 53 YEARS R/AT.NINGAPUR GALLI KHANAPUR, BELGAUM 33. PANDURANG S/O BUDHAJI JALGEKAR AGE:53 YRS, R/O NINGAPUR GALLI KHANAPUR TALUK, BELGAUM 34. NARAYAN S/O POMANNA PATIL AGE:52 YRS, R/O MAJAREHATTI KARALGA, KHANAPUR TALUK BELGAUM 35. MARUTI S/O CHANNAPPA JADHAV AGE:59 YRS, R/O TOPINAKATTI KHANAPUR, BELGAUM 36. RAMU S/O.SRI.GANESH GHADI AGED ABOUT 57 YEARS R/AT.HARURI, POST MANTURGE TQ.KHANAPUR, BELGAUM 37. HANAMANT S/O.SRI.MATRU GHALI AGED ABOUT 60 YEARS : 6 : R/AT.HONAKAL, POST.KARAMBAL TQ.KHANAPUR, BELGAUM 38. GOPAL S/O SHANKAR BHUTAKI AGE:59 YRS, R/O CHIRAMUKAR GALLI KHANAPUR, BELGAUM 39. SHARVAN S/O MARUTI GHOUGULE AGE:44 YRS, R/O NINGAPUR GALLI KHANAPUR, BELGAUM 40. ANKOSH, S/O.SRI.VITHAL PATIL AGED ABOUT 64 YEARS R/AT.SHIVOLI, POST.CHAPAGOAN TQ.KHANAPUR, BELGAUM 41. GUNDU S/O.SRI.BALU PAWAR AGED ABOUT 60 YEARS R/AT.HARURI ,POST.MANTURGE TQ.KHANAPUR, BELGAUM 42. MARUTHI S/O.SRI.PARASHURAM DESURKAR AGED ABOUT 50 YEARS R/AT.ZAD MAVAGA, POST.HEBBAL TQ.KHANAPUR, BELGAUM 43. MAHADEV S/O YADO SHINDE AGE:53 YRS, R/O GANGAALI POST: MANTURGE, KHANAPUR BELGAUM 44. TUKARAM S/O SATARI GOWDA AGE:54 YRS, R/O MANIKWADI TIVOLI POST, KHANAPUR TALUK BELGAUM : 7 : 45. LAXMAN S/O.RAGHOBA PATIL AGED ABOUT 54 YEARS R/AT.SHIVOLI, POST.CHAPAGOAN TQ.KHANAPUR, BELGAUM 46. SHIVAJI S/O.LAXMAN SHAHAPURKAR AGED ABOUT 54 YEARS R/AT.TOPINAKATTI TQ.KHANAPUR, BELGAUM 47. MAHADEV S/O.GUNDU DEVALAKAR AGED ABOUT 54 YEARS R/AT.TOPINAKATTI TQ.KHANAPUR, BELGAUM 48. LAKAMANNA S/O BOMANNA GADI AGE:55 YRS, R/O HUNAKAL KARAMBAL POST: KARAMBAL, KHANAPUR TALUK, BELGAUM 49. TUKARAM S/O MOTAPPA MADAR AGE:51 YRS, R/O KOUNDAL KARMBAL POST, KHANAPUR TALUK BELGAUM 50. THAKKAPPA S/O HANAMANT GORAL AGE:53 YRS, R/O ZAD NAVAGE HEBBAL POST, KHANAPUR TALUK BELGAUM 51. MINAJI S/O.SRI.RAMACHANDRA PATIL AGED ABOUT 54 YEARS R/AT.SAWARGALLI, POST.MANTURGE TQ.KHANAPUR, BELGAUM 52. GANAPATI S/O.SRI.PARASHURAM BACHOLKAR AGED ABOUT 54 YEARS : 8 : R/AT.TOPINAKATTI, TQ.KHANAPUR BELGAUM 53. BUDDAPPA S/O.SRI.YALLAPPA GURAV AGED ABOUT 51 YEARS R/AT.SHADE GALLI, POST MANTURGE TQ.KHANAPUR, BELGAUM 54. LAXMAN S/O DHAKLU KADAM AGE:53 YRS, R/O GANGAWALI, MANTURGE POST, KHANAPUR TALUK BELGAUM 55. GANESH S/O GAWDU PATIL AGE:42 YRS, R/O SAVARGALLI MANTURGE POST, KHANAPUR TALUK BELGAUM 56. PARASHURAM S/O.NARAYAN KURUMBAR AGED ABOUT 51 YEARS R/AT.KOUNDAL, POST.KARMBAL TQ.KHANAPUR, BELGAUM 57. BHARAMANI S/O.VALLRI GUNJIKAR AGED ABOUT 61 YEARS R/AT.TOPINAKATTI, TQ.KHANAPUR BELGAUM 58. PARASHURAM S/O FAKIRA HANGIRKAR AGE:54 YRS, R/O VADOGO LOKOLLI POST, KHANAPUR TALUK BELGAUM 59. LAXMAN S/O SHANKAR PATIL AGE:58 YRS,R/O KUPPATGERI KHANAPUR POST,KHANAPUR TALUK : 9 : BELGAUM 60. KRISHNA DANDOBA ALLOLKAR AGE:61 YRS,R/O MUDEWADI VILLAGE KHANAPUR TAULK, BELGAUM ... PETITIONERS (By Sri. V R DATAR ADV.) AND: 1. M/S CERAMIC PRODUCTS LIMITED, KHANAPUR KHANAPUT TALUK, BELGAUM REP BY ITS MANAGING DIRECTOR 2. THE FACTORY MANAGER M/S CERAMIC PRODUCTS LTD KHANAPUR TALUK, BELGAUM ... RESPONDENTS (By Sri. RAVIRAJ C PATIL ADV. FOR R1; M/S. VIJAYKUMAR BOLMAL ASSTS. FOR R2) THIS WP IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 & 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO: 1. QUASH THE COMMON JUDGMENT & ORDER DT. 30-10-2003 PASSED BY II ADDL. SESSIONS JUDGE, BELGAUM IN CRL. APPEAL Nos. 32, 33 & 34/2001 VIDE ANN.D AS THE SAID JUDGMENT AND ORDERS SUFFERS FROM ERRORS WHICH ARE APPARENT ON THE FACE OF THE RECORD : 10 : APART FROM BEING WITHOUT JURISDICTION, ILLEGAL AND WITHOUT AUTHORITY OF LAW. 2. RESTORE THE COMMON JUDGMENT DT.15- 2-2001 PASSED BY THE LEARNED JUDL. MAGISTRATE FIRST CLASS, KHANAPUR, IN CRL. MISC. APPLICATIONS Nos. 140/1998, 141/1998 AND 142/1998 AND TO DIRECT THE RESPONDENTS TO PAY THE PETRS. THE AMOUNTS PAYABLE TO THEM WITH COMPENSATION AT THE RATE OF Rs.5,000/- TO EACH OF THE PETRS. AS DIRECTED BY THE LEARNED JUDL. MAGISTRATE FIRST CLASS, KHANAPUR, AND ALSO TO PAY INTEREST ON TEH SAID AMOUNTS AT 12% PER ANNUM FROM THE DATE ON WHICH THE AMOUNTS BECAME PAYABLE TO THE PETRS. TILL THE DATE OF PAYMENT AND TO GRANT THEM ALL CONSEQUENTIAL BENEFITS. This writ petition coming on for Preliminary Hearing in ‘B’ group this dAy, the Court mAde the following: : 11 : O R D E R The petitioners Are Aggrieved by the order mAde by leArned II Addl. Sessions Judge, BelgAum, in CriminAl AppeAl Nos.32, 33 And 34 of 2001 which were filed AgAinst the order mAde by leArned III Addl.CJM, BelgAum, in CriminAl Misc. Nos.34/1994 to 36/1994 under Section 15(2) of the Payment of Wages Act, 1936 (for short ‘the Act’). 2. HeArd the leArned counsel for pArties. 3. Under Section 17 of the Act, An AppeAl AgAinst An order dismissing either wholly or in pArt An ApplicAtion mAde under sub-section (2) of Section 15, or AgAinst A direction mAde under sub- section (3) or sub-section (4) of thAt Section, lies to the District Court, when the order or direction wAs mAde in A plAce other thAn A Presidency-town. : 12 : 4. In the cAse on hAnd, the AppeAls Are entertAined under the provisions of Code of CriminAl Procedure And they Are decided by the II Addl. Sessions Judge. The Court of II Addl. Sessions Judge is not the ‘ District Court’ under Section (4) of Civil Courts Act. The subject mAtter of AppeAl is civil in nAture, which determines civil rights And liAbilities of pArties. 5. Under the circumstAnces, the II Addl. Sessions Judge should not hAve decided the AppeAls As if they were AppeAls filed under the Code of CriminAl Procedure. 6. In the result, I pAss the following: O R D E R (i) The petition is accepted; (ii) The impugned orders are set aside; : 13 : (iii) The matter is remanded to the Court of Principal District Judge, Belgaum, for reconsideration of the appeals under Section 17 of the Act, in accordance with law; (iv) All contentions urged herein are kept open. Sd/- JUDGE RK/-.