Dr A S Bindra, the managing director of the Punjab Meats Limited (PML) Industries, is in thick soup. The Punjab and Haryana High Court has issued showcause notices to Dr A S Bindra, father of ace shooter Abhinav Bindra, asking him to explain as to why contempt of court proceedings cannot be initiated against him. The directions have been passed by Justice Permod Kohli on a petition filed by one Dr Joseph K Masih, a resident of Mohali. Masih, who was working with the PML Industries, moved the High Court demanding contempt of court proceedings against Bindra. Due to certain reasons, Masih was dismissed from service. Aggrieved of this, Masih moved the court of Labour Commissioner, who passed the order in 2001 in favour of Masih and directed the company to reinstate him. Challenging the order, the PML Industry moved the High Court which stayed the order of Labour Commissioner with the condition that the company will comply with Section 17-B of the Industrial Disputes Act. As per Section 17-B, an employer is liable to pay monthly wages to his employee in case of a dispute. Meanwhile, the company also moved the Court of Assistant Labour Commissioner, Mohali, which was supposed to execute the order passed by the Labour Commissioner in 2001. The company managed to stay the case in the Court of Assistant Labour Commissioner as well stating that their appeal has been stayed by the High Court. Masih then moved the High court again alleging that he has not been paid the wages and that the company has procured stay from the Court of Assistant Labour Commissioner by ‘wrong statement’. Masih alleged that the company did not bring this to the notice of Court of Assistant Labour Commissioner that the wages have not been paid to Masih. Taking note of this, the High Court today issued showcause notices to Dr A S Bindra, MD, PML Industries Limited, Dera Bassi.
