2026 LLR WEB 1138 (PUNJAB AND HARYANA HIGH COURT)
An industrial dispute raised after an inordinate and unexplained delay is a stale claim and cannot form the basis for reference or relief under Section 10 of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, notwithstanding the absence of a prescribed limitation period.

INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES - Delay in raising dispute - Stale claims - Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, Section 10(1)(c) - Punjab Civil Services (Punishment and Appeal) Rules, 1970, Rules 8 and 9 - A workman's grade increments were stopped with cumulative effect by way of a major punishment imposed without holding any departmental inquiry as mandated for such punishment - Demand notice challenging the punishment was raised after a delay of over a decade from the date of the punishment order, and the reference was made to the Industrial Tribunal thereafter... subscribe to read more..