Industrial Disputes Act, 1947–Secs. 17 & 17A–Ex-parte award–Scope for setting aside–Court/Tribunal possesses the power to set aside an ex parte award before the expiry of 30 days of its publication as well as after the expiry of 30 days of its publication, when the party shows a sufficient cause for non-appearance and when the award does not become binding being passed without compliance with principles of natural justice–Labour Court /Tribunal does not become functus offico even after the award has become enforceable, as for as the ex-parte award is concerned–it is well within the power of the Labour Court/Tribunal to entertain an application as per the scheme of the Act and in terms of principles of Natural Justice.
