BALLARPUR COLLIERIES CO. vs THE PRESIDING OFFICEIR, C.G.I.T. DHANBAD AND ANR.

The Supreme Court held that the strike by the workers of the appellant Colliery was illegal under Section 23(b) and Section 23(c) of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, as it occurred during the pendency of proceedings before the Tribunal and a settlement facilitated by the Regional Labour Commissioner. The Court clarified that the reference under Section 36A effectively reopened the earlier reference under the Majumdar Award for interpretation purposes, thus making the strike unlawful. The appeal was allowed, affirming the illegality of the strike.