'The order dated 3rd November, 1983 passed by the learned Presiding Officer, Punjab Labour Court No, 7, Gujranwala has been challenged in this revision, whereby the learned lower Court declined to decide the question of applicability of Pakistan Essential Services (Maintenance) Act, 1952 to the appellant establishment, before deciding the case on merits.
2., A copy of the decision of Writ Petition No, 4956 of 1983 has been filed, wherein it has been held that Order XIV, rule 2 is not applicable to the tribunals of limited jurisdiction and that such a Tribunals being of limited jurisdiction should first decide the question of jurisdiction. There is no provision in the Industrial Relations Ordinance, 1969 that the question of jurisdiction should be decided before deciding the case on merits. At the same time there is no prohibition. So, it is the discretion of the Labour Courts to propose to decide the question of jurisdiction first, if avoiding the delay in the disposal of the case, it is possible. In the present case no elaborate evidence is required to decide the question of jurisdiction. Some notifications are to be produced and the learned lower Court after their careful perusal has to decide if without break the Pakistan Essential Services (Maintenance) Act, 1952 has been made applicable to the appellant or not. In my view the disposal of the case will not be delayed by the decision of the question of jurisdiction in this particular case.
3. As a result, the revision is accepted and setting aside the impugned order, the learned lower Court is directed to decide the question of jurisdiction before deciding the case on merits.