BDK VALVES PRIVATE LTD vs IMAMSAB MUTTUKHANAVAR — CP/100105/2026

B. Muralidhara PaiView PDF

Case Summary: CP/100105/2026 Court: High Court of Karnataka, Dharwad Bench Date: June 12, 2026 Judge: Hon'ble Mr. Justice B. Muralidhara Pai Case Details Petitioner: BDK Valves Private Limited Respondent: Imamsab Muttukhanavar (and 160+ others in connected petitions) Facts - BDK Valves terminated approximately 163 employees on November 27, 2024, for alleged grave misconduct arising from participation in an illegal strike - A trade union raised industrial disputes before the Deputy Commissioner, Belagavi - Government referred disputes to Labour Court, Hubballi (November 15, 2024) - Respondents filed individual industrial disputes under the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 Key Issues The petitioner sought transfer of pending industrial disputes from Labour Court, Hubballi to Industrial Tribunals under the newly enacted Industrial Relations Code, 2020 (effective November 21, 2025). Court's Decision The petitions were DISMISSED. Key Reasoning 1. Tribunals Not Yet Constituted: Industrial Tribunals under the Code have not yet been established, making transfer impossible under Section 24 CPC (proceedings must be transferred to a competent forum) 2. Statutory Framework Controls: Transfer of cases under special statutes (ID Act or Code) is governed by statutory provisions (Section 33B(1) of ID Act and Section 92(1) of Code), not general CPC provisions 3. Government Clarifications: Central Government notifications (dated 08.12.2025 and 02.02.2026) clarify that existing Labour Courts shall continue functioning until corresponding authorities are appointed under the Code—ensuring continuity and avoiding administrative vacuum 4. Jurisdiction Continues: Despite repeal of the ID Act, Labour Courts retain jurisdiction to hear pending cases under Section 104(1A) of the Code read with the Removal of Difficulties Orders 5. Constitutional Powers Limited: Articles 226-227 (writ jurisdiction) apply only for bias, denial of natural justice, or special circumstances—not for jurisdictional arguments based on statutory repeal Conclusion The court upheld the Labour Court's continuing jurisdiction to adjudicate pending industrial disputes, rejecting the petitioner's argument that the repealed statutory framework rendered the proceedings invalid. This case analysis is maintained by casestatus.in based on publicly available court records.

Orders

B. Muralidhara Pai

First hearing

Initial hearing scheduled

Case filed

Registration No. CP/100105/2026