In a recent case titled Thyssen Krupp Industries India Private Limited & Ors v. Suresh Maruti Chougule & Ors. , the Supreme Court of India revisited the issue of legal representation in matters governed by the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, reaffirming that advocates cannot claim the right of legal representation under this specific labor law.

This interpretation emerged as a response to a reference against the judgment in the Paradip Port Trust case (1977), which previously clarified the role of legal practitioners in cases falling under the Industrial Disputes Act. The recent case before the Supreme Court involved a re-examination of this precedent and the underlying legislative framework.

**Relevant Sections of Labor Law**

The Industrial Disputes Act contains relevant sections that delineate the right to legal representation in labor disputes. Section 36 of the Act establishes that a workman party to a dispute shall be entitled to be represented by any member of a registered trade union. Section 36(4) further elaborates that in any proceeding before a labor court or tribunal, a party to a dispute may be represented by a legal practitioner, but with the consent of the other parties involved and with the leave of the court.

On the other hand, Section 30 of the Advocates Act, 1961, empowers advocates to practice in any Indian court or tribunal, apparently conferring an unconditional right to practice before these bodies.

The Paradip Port Trust Case

The 1977 Paradip Port Trust case is at the heart of this legal debate. It clarified the application of Section 36 of the Industrial Disputes Act, asserting that legal practitioners, even if they were officers of companies or corporations and not actively practicing as advocates, could still represent entities in legal matters. The judgment highlighted that a person’s status as a legal practitioner wouldn’t impact their eligibility to represent parties before the tribunal as long as they met the qualifications specified under Section 36 of the Act.

However, it also held that an advocate could not claim the right to legal representation under Section 30 of the Advocates Act when dealing with matters governed by the Industrial Disputes Act. The Advocates Act broadly grants advocates the right to practice in any court or tribunal “as of right.” Still, the Supreme Court contended that Section 30 should not be invoked when it pertains to the Industrial Disputes Act.

The court reasoned that the Industrial Disputes Act is a special law, primarily focused on labor welfare and representation before adjudicatory authorities. As such, it takes precedence over the Advocates Act, which is a general law governing the appearance of lawyers in various forums. This principle, legally known as “general laws do not derogate from special ones,” emphasizes that the specific provisions of the Industrial Disputes Act are not to be affected by the Advocates Act.

Furthermore, the court highlighted that the restriction on engaging a legal practitioner was placed on the party involved, not the rights of the legal practitioner. In cases under the Industrial Disputes Act, the primary consideration is the rights and restrictions imposed on the parties, including employers and workmen. The rights of legal practitioners are secondary to the core dispute between these parties. Hence, the need to consider the rights of legal practitioners may not arise in this context.

**Reaffirmation by the Supreme Court**

The recent case that led to the reaffirmation of the position laid out in Paradip Port Trust involved a reference against the previous judgment. The Supreme Court, composed of a three-judge bench comprising Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul, CT Ravikumar, and Sudhanshu Dhulia, was tasked with revisiting the issue.

The Court emphasized that the matter should not be reviewed from the perspective of the legal practitioner, but from the standpoint of the employer and workmen, who are the principal contestants in an industrial dispute. The focus remains on the rights and restrictions imposed on these parties, consistent with the precedent set in Paradip Port Trust.

The Court found no ground to revisit the well-settled position of law that has been in place for almost half a century. The reaffirmation solidified the stance that advocates cannot claim the right of legal representation under the Industrial Disputes Act.

The Court’s answer to the reference upheld the view adopted in Paradip Port Trust and underlined the specialized nature of the Industrial Disputes Act concerning labor disputes. It stated that the Advocates Act’s general provisions did not affect the specific provisions and intent of the Industrial Disputes Act.

In conclusion, the Supreme Court’s recent reaffirmation reinforces the notion that advocates do not have the right to legal representation under the Industrial Disputes Act. This legal position ensures consistency in the interpretation of labor laws and has prevailed for nearly five decades.