CHENNAI: A notice dated September 6 this year of the Chennai Petroleum Corportion Limited (CPCL) in Manali, which increased the working hours from 42 hours to 48 hours per week with one day weekly off as against two days with effect from October 1, this year, was set aside by the Madras High Court on Wednesday.Justice N Paul Vasanthakumar, who set aside the notice on the ground that the employees had not been heard, remitted the matter back to the CPCL with a direction to it to convene a meeting, negotiate with the employees and take a decision in accordance with law.The judge noted that the resolution to increase the working hours and reduce the weeky off was passed in January, 2005. “However, it was not implemented all these years. On a perusal of the impugned notice, it was evident that no reason was assigned for the increase in working hours and decrease in weeky offs. It was definitely an alteration of service condition. Hence, before making the change, the members of the petitioner were bound to be heard in compliance of the principles of natural justice. No hearing was given before implementing the decision from October 1 last. CPCL could have very well convene a meeting and negotiate with the association members to impress upon them to increase the working hours,” the jduge said.
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