Maha HC quashes case against industry body

Observing that no case had been made out for obstructing a public servant from performing his duty, the Bombay High Court has quashed proceedings initiated by the Deputy Director of Industrial Safety and Health against Taloja Manufacturers' Association, in a lower court.

Hearing a petition filed by the association recently, Justice K U Chandiwal also set aside the process (notice) issued by the Judicial Magistrate First Class in Vashi, Navi Mumbai, on the complaint of the Deputy Director.

The association felt that the activities of the concerned officer were disturbing to the smooth functioning of the industrial units in Taloja area.

 

Accordingly, it wrote a letter on October 16, 2010, to the Director of Industrial Safety and Health informing that the concerned officer (respondent) was harassing all units of M/s Deepak Fertilizers and Petrochemical Corporation Ltd. The officer had asked for a letter of appreciation from the association under the signature of its president and addressed to the Director of Industrial Safety and Health.

As the letter was not given, it was alleged that the officer went to the office of Deepak Fertilisers on October 15, 2010 and harassed them by carrying out inspection. The association made a grievance in the letter that this type of approach by a government officer will affect the functioning of a bonafide association. The letter, which was confidential, urged that such acts should not be repeated.