SBI dismissal case: Telangana HC orders Tribunal to decide on two decades-old case in 8 weeks

The petitioner challenged the prolonged inaction in disposing of the industrial dispute arising from his termination, which has remained pending for over two decades before the Tribunal.

By Legal Correspondent

Hyderabad: Justice Surepalli Nanda of the Telangana High Court on Monday directed the Central Government Industrial Tribunal-cum-Labour Court, Hyderabad, to expeditiously adjudicate a long-pending industrial dispute dating back to 2002, involving a former employee of the State Bank of India (SBI).

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The judge was hearing a writ petition filed by Komdamudi Chandra Sekhar Rao, who served as an employee at the SBI Ponnur Branch in Guntur District.

The petitioner challenged the prolonged inaction in disposing of the industrial dispute arising from his termination, which has remained pending for over two decades before the Tribunal.

Relying on an earlier direction issued by the High Court in June 2014, the petitioner submitted that despite the passage of considerable time, the matter had not been taken up for disposal on merits, resulting in severe hardship and denial of his right to livelihood.

He sought a direction to the Tribunal for time-bound adjudication of the case, asserting that such prolonged pendency violated the principles of natural justice.

Notably, the respondent authorities, including SBI, did not contest the pendency of the proceedings or the relief sought in the writ plea.

Taking note of the submissions, Justice Nanda disposed of the writ petition with a direction to the Industrial Tribunal to decide the matter on merits, strictly in accordance with law and after granting due opportunity to all parties.

The Tribunal was directed to conclude the proceedings within a period of eight weeks from the date of receipt of the High Court order.