GOA SAMPLING EMPLOYEES' ASSOCIATION vs GENERAL SUPERINTENDANCE CO. OF INDIA PVT. LTD. AND ORS.

The Supreme Court held that the Central Government is the 'appropriate Government' under Section 10(1)(d) of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 for referring industrial disputes involving dock workers at Mormugao Port in the Union Territory of Goa, Daman, and Diu. The Court found that the workmen, classified as 'dock workers' under the Dock Workers (Regulation of Employment) Act, 1948, were correctly referred to the Central Government Industrial Tribunal. The High Court's ruling, which quashed the references on the grounds that the Central Government was not the appropriate authority, was overturned, affirming the validity of the references made by the Central Government.