Kerala High Court: Newspaper Report Doesn’t Count as Formal Dismissal Notice

The Kerala High Court held that a newspaper report cannot substitute official communication of a dismissal order. The case involved journalist K.S. Hariharan, who was dismissed in 2008 but formally informed only in 2015 during conciliation proceedings.

The Labour Court had earlier dismissed his challenge as time-barred under Section 2A(3) of the Industrial Disputes Act, relying on the date of the newspaper report.

However, the High Court ruled that the limitation begins only after formal service of the order. It restored the case and directed the Labour Court to reconsider it.

[K S Hariharan v The Labour Court Kollam and Anr]