(Prayer: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for issuance of a Writ of Mandamus, directing the respondent 1 to 3 to maintain law and order and restrain the respondents 4 – 7 and their supporters by ensuring that no striking persons assemble illegally in any form inside or outside the factory premises and shouting slogans, dharna and picketing against the petitioner within a radius of 500 meters from petitioner’s factor at MRF Limited, Eripakkam, Nattapakkam Commune, Puducherry.)

G.K. Ilanthiraiyan, J.

This Writ Petition has been filed for direction directing the respondent 1 to 3 to maintain law and order and restrain the respondents 4 - 7 and their supporters by ensuring that no striking persons assemble illegally in any form inside or outside the factory premises and shouting slogans, dharna and picketing against the petitioner within a radius of 500 meters from petitioner's factor at MRF Limited, Eripakkam, Nattapakkam Commune, Puducherry.

2. The petitioner is a public limited company and it has factory at various places. In one among the place viz., at Puducherry, the factory was established in the year 1997. The factory supports the livelihoods of approximately 5000 families. While being so, on 29.06.2026, around 40 trainees spear headed by the respondents 4 to 7 herein assembled in front of the gate No.1 of the plant and commenced a protest demanding permanent employment. It continued until 12.00 noon, during which, slogans were raised against the petitioner and statements perceived to be threatening in nature were made. Thereafter around 5.00 p.m., the protesting trainees pushed the security personnel and entered into the administrative block without authorization.

3. Further on 30.06.2026, the family members and the supporters of the protesting trainees assembled outside the factory and blocked the employees and workmen and also vehicle entry points. Though the police personnel presented at the location, they faced difficulty in controlling the situation. Therefore, the petitioner lodged complaint before the respondents 2 and 3, seeking police protection and also to remove the obstruction in order to maintain the law and order. Thereafter, on 01.07.2026, again the agitators called the petitioner officials who were present in the petitioner's unit and sought an immediate response to the respondents 4 to 7's demand. Once again on 02.07.206, the agitation and blockage continued without any significant change. Hence, the petitioner filed the present Writ Petition with the above prayer.

4. Heard the learned counsel appearing on either side and perused the materials placed before this Court.

5. It is also seen that, the petitioner had already filed a suit in O.S.No.376 of 2024 on the file of the learned Principal District Munsiff, Puducherry and also filed an interim application in I.A.No.2 of 2024 for injunction. It was granted as against the respondents 4 to 7 and others. The order is as follows :-

                   "restraining the respondent unions, their members, office bearers, servants, agents, other representatives and any other persons from conducting stay-in-strike and demonstration raising any slogans any other form of strike within the factory premises unlawfully and illegally in contravention of terms and conditions of the Company, from holding out threats, intimidation, gherao, or wrongful confinement of the plaintiffs customers and officers, managerial staff, workers, contractual labours and other members of the public within the Petitioner's premises and within the radius of 300 meters from the main entrance of the factory gate, and engaging themselves in illegal detention of the employees, officers, staffs, managers, other employees, customer, guests, materials, vehicles and other properties of the Petitioner company till 16.04.2024 on condition that the Petitioner should comply Order XXXIX Rule 3-A of C.P."

Even then, the agitators failed to comply with the order. Further, the petitioner has not been able to run the factory for the past several days. Though the petitioner approached the respondents 1 to 3, the petitioner was not provided with any police protection.

6. On perusal of the counter affidavit filed by the second respondent and on the submission made by the learned Government Advocate (Crl. Side) appearing for the respondents 1 to 3, it is revealed that on receipt of the representation from the petitioner, the second respondent immediately assessed the prevailing situation and deployed adequate police personnel in and around the factory premises to maintain public peace, law and order and also to prevent any untoward incident. The protest in question arises out of an industrial dispute between the petitioner management and certain trainees. The protest commenced on 29.06.2026 and when certain trainees and others assembled in front of the administrative block within the factory premises and staged a protest demanding confirmation of their employment. Now, adequate police protection is provided to the petitioner's factory to maintain public peace, law and order and to prevent any untoward incident. It has also been ensured that the action will be taken as against the person who commits any offence or causes obstruction to public peace, strictly in accordance with law.

7. In view of the above, the second respondent is directed to continue the police protection to the petitioner's factory to maintain law and order by ensuring that no striking person assemble illegally in any form inside or outside the factory premises of the petitioner and shouting slogans, dharna and picketing against the petitioner within a radius of 300 meters from the petitioner's factory at MRF Limited, Eripakkam, Nettapakkam Commune, Puducherry.

8. With the above directions, the Writ Petition stands disposed of. Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is closed. There shall be no order as to cost.