[2013] KEHC 3918 (KLR)

[2013] KEHC 3918 (KLR)

The High Court held that it retains supervisory jurisdiction over the Industrial Court, even in the face of statutory finality clauses, but this jurisdiction is limited to correcting errors of law affecting jurisdiction or breaches of natural justice, not to reviewing the merits of the decision. The court found that...

Source-derived case information.

Citation
[2013] KEHC 3918 (KLR)
Parties
Applicant: Municipal Council of Thika; Respondent: Industrial Court of Kenya; Respondent: Kenya Local Government Workers Union
Court
High Court
Court Station
High Court at Nairobi (Milimani Law Courts)
Jurisdiction
Kenya
Case Number
Miscellaneous Civil Application 309 of 2009
Procedural Posture
Miscellaneous Application / Judgment
Outcome
application dismissed
Legal Topics
Judicial Review, Industrial Court Jurisdiction, Finality Clauses, Reinstatement of Employees, Sub Judice Principle
Source Language
en
Administrative Law Employment and Labour Judicial Review Industrial Court Jurisdiction Finality Clauses Reinstatement of Employees Sub Judice Principle

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Summary, issues, holding and outcome

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Parties

Municipal Council of Thika

Applicant

Industrial Court of Kenya

Respondent

Kenya Local Government Workers Union

Respondent

Procedural Posture

Miscellaneous Application / Judgment

  1. 1 Whether the High Court has jurisdiction to review decisions of the Industrial Court under the repealed Trade Disputes Act despite finality clauses.
  2. 2 Whether the Industrial Court acted in excess of jurisdiction by proceeding with the dispute while an appeal was pending and by ordering reinstatement of employees.
  3. 3 Whether the principle of sub judice or section 14(9)(c) of the Trade Disputes Act barred the Industrial Court from hearing the matter.

Ratio Decidendi

The High Court held that it retains supervisory jurisdiction over the Industrial Court, even in the face of statutory finality clauses, but this jurisdiction is limited to correcting errors of law affecting jurisdiction or breaches of natural justice, not to reviewing the merits of the decision. The court found that the Industrial Court was not barred by section 14(9)(c) of the Trade Disputes Act or the sub judice principle from proceeding with the dispute, as the parties before the Industrial Court were not identical to those in the pending appeal and not all issues were substantially the same. The court further held that the Industrial Court had statutory authority to order...

Court Disposition

application dismissed

Orders

  • The Notice of Motion dated 8th June 2009 is dismissed with costs to the respondents.