https://www.taxtmi.com/caselaws?id=278743 Industrial references under the Industrial Disputes Act require an existing or apprehended dispute between the identified employer and workmen. A general reference that does not disclose such a dispute lacks jurisdictional foundation, rendering the resulting award void and inoperative. Validating provisions in the Industrial Disputes (Madras Amendment) Act, 1949 were unconstitutional because they created an arbitrary distinction based on whether an invalid award had been challenged and conflicted with the central Act by purporting to validate awards without a valid reference. Consequently, criminal prosecution for breach of the award could not be maintained, and the proceedings were quashed. en-us Wed, 15 Nov 1950 00:00:00 +0530 Tue, 19 Feb 2019 10:10:00 +0530 TaxTMI RSS Generator https://www.taxtmi.com/caselaws?id=278743 Industrial references under the Industrial Disputes Act require an existing or apprehended dispute between the identified employer and workmen. A general reference that does not disclose such a dispute lacks jurisdictional foundation, rendering the resulting award void and inoperative. Validating provisions in the Industrial Disputes (Madras Amendment) Act, 1949 were unconstitutional because they created an arbitrary distinction based on whether an invalid award had been challenged and conflicted with the central Act by purporting to validate awards without a valid reference. Consequently, criminal prosecution for breach of the award could not be maintained, and the proceedings were quashed. Case-Laws Indian Laws Wed, 15 Nov 1950 00:00:00 +0530 https://www.taxtmi.com/caselaws?id=278743