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Industrial Disputes Act, 1947

986 judgments · newest first · showing 201–400

KANTIBHAI ARJANBHAI BHAMATversusRANGE FOREST OFFICER

26-DISMISSED @ ADM.STAGE

The State of Gujarat filed a petition under Articles 226 and 227 of the Constitution challenging a Labour Court award that reinstated a former Chowkidar, Kantibhai Arjanbhai Bhamat, without backwages. The workman had been employed from 2007‑08 until August 2015 and was terminated without due …

Premium Tools Pvt Ltd AND ORSversusAssistant Labour Commissioner Nashik AND ORS

Disposed Off

Premium Tools Private Limited and others challenged a series of orders issued by the Assistant Labour Commissioner under Section 33C(1) of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, which granted recovery certificates. The petitioners argued that the Competent Authority had exceeded its jurisdiction because …

MR. SHANKAR SADASHIV CHAVANversusMR. KENNETH PAUL AND ANR

Rejected

The petitioner, a custom clerk of 23 years, filed a writ petition challenging a 2019 order of the Central Government Industrial Tribunal that dismissed his claim for reinstatement, back wages, and salary difference under a labour settlement. He alleged oral termination on 1 May 2011 after being …

JYOTI SHAM KELUSKARversusDISTRICT COLLECTOR NASHIK AND ORS

Disposed Off

Premium Tools Private Limited and others challenged a series of orders issued by the Competent Authority under Section 33C(1) of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, which granted recovery certificates. The petitioners argued that the Authority had exceeded its jurisdiction because it did not first …

STATE OF GUJARATversusMANTRI SHRI, CENTER OF TRADES UNION

38-RULE ABSOLUTE/ALLOWED @ FH

The State of Gujarat filed a writ petition under Articles 226 and 227 of the Constitution challenging the award of the Industrial Court, Rajkot dated 8 March 2022, which had ordered payment of certain benefits to the heirs of a deceased part‑time worker. The worker had been reinstated in 2013 as a …

MUMTAJBEN W/O SHAIYADALIBHAI KADRIversusASSISTANT DIRECTORATE OF AGRICULTURE

38-RULE ABSOLUTE/ALLOWED @ FH

The State of Gujarat filed a writ petition under Articles 226 and 227 of the Constitution challenging the award of the Industrial Court, Rajkot dated 8 March 2022, which had ordered payment of certain benefits to the heirs of a deceased part‑time worker. The worker had been reinstated in 2013 as a …

THE PADRA MUNICIPALITYversusKANTABEN RAMANBHAI SOLANKI

44-PARTLY ALLOWED @ FH

Padra Municipality filed petitions under Articles 226 and 227 of the Constitution challenging a Labour Court award that ordered reinstatement of several workmen and payment of back wages. The workmen had been engaged intermittently as casual daily‑wage labourers for drainage sweeping, not on any …

THE PADRA MUNICIPALITYversusLILABEN PARSHOTTAMBHAI SOLANKI

44-PARTLY ALLOWED @ FH

Padra Municipality filed petitions under Articles 226 and 227 of the Constitution challenging a Labour Court award that ordered reinstatement of several workmen and payment of back wages. The workmen had been engaged intermittently as casual daily‑wage labourers for drainage sweeping, not on any …

SHRAMYOGI LATE GORDHANBHAI SAMATBHAI VAGHELAS HEIR SON RAJUBHAI GORDHANBHAI VAGHELAversusDEPUTY EXECUTIVE ENGINEER, SHETRUNJI JAMNA KANTHA CANAL SUB-DIVISION

26-DISMISSED @ ADM.STAGE

The petitioner, the heir of a deceased work‑charge watchman, filed a petition under Articles 14, 226 and 227 of the Constitution challenging an award of the Industrial Court that dismissed his claim for a compassionate appointment and imposed exemplary costs of Rs 25,000. The dispute arose from a …

Shyam PanditversusThe State of Bihar

DISPOSED

Eleven petitioners, residents of various villages in Madhepura district, filed a writ petition against the State of Bihar and several administrative officials seeking regularisation of their employment. They requested permission to approach the appropriate Labour Court under the Industrial Disputes …

GUJARAT ENERGY TRANSMISSION CORPORATION LTD. GETCOversusCHANDRAKANT KESHUBHAI PARMAR

RULE ISSUED AND PARTLY ALLOWED

Gujarat Energy Transmission Corporation Ltd (GETCO) challenged an ex‑parte award dated 26 May 2023 passed by the Labour Court, Bhavnagar, which ordered reinstatement of two workmen with 20% back wages. The workmen had raised an industrial dispute over alleged oral terminations in 2013 and 2014, …

RATILALBHAI ZULYABHAI CHAUDHARIversusDEPUTY CONSERVATOR OF FOREST

26-DISMISSED @ ADM.STAGE

The petitioner, a forest department labourer, was orally terminated in 2005 without notice. He raised the dispute before the Assistant Labour Commissioner, which was referred to the Labour Court (Reference No. 16/2016). The Labour Court, on 15‑02‑2025, rejected the reference on the ground of an …

MAHESHBHAI MOHANBHAI BHOYEversusDEPUTY CONSERVATOR OF FOREST

26-DISMISSED @ ADM.STAGE

The petitioner, a forest department labourer terminated in 2005 without notice, filed a conciliation proceeding which failed and subsequently raised a reference before the Labour Court in 2016. The Labour Court, on 15‑02‑2025, rejected the reference on the ground of delay, holding that the …

Kapildeo Pandit and OrsversusThe State Of Bihar and Ors

DISMISSED

The petitioners, a group of electricity workers, filed a writ petition seeking a mandamus directing the State of Bihar and various power distribution companies to implement orders, resume their duties, withdraw false cases, enforce labour laws and pay arrears after a strike in January 2016. The …

THE GENERAL MANAGER (P) CANARA BANKversusGANGANARASIMHAIAH

2025 INSC 1088Disposed off

The respondent, a sub‑staff of Canara Bank, was found guilty of making unauthorized entries, coercing the branch manager to sanction loans for his family, and tampering with bank records, leading to his compulsory retirement in 2006. The disciplinary authority’s findings were affirmed by the …

CH. JOSEPHversusTHE TELANGANA STATE ROAD TRANSPORT CORPORATION & OTHER

2025 INSC 920Appeal(s) allowed

The appellant, a driver employed by the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation, was found colour‑blind during a routine medical check and was retired on medical grounds without being offered an alternative post. He claimed entitlement to redeployment under Clause 14 of a 1979 Memorandum of …

UCO BANK & ANR.versusVIJAY KUMAR HANDA

2025 INSC 442Dismissed

Vijay Kumar Handa, a clerk of UCO Bank, was charged with gross misconduct and dismissed from service in 1999. The appellate authority modified the penalty to removal from service with entitlement to terminal benefits, stating that removal would not disqualify future employment. The bank later …

THE MANAGEMENT OF WORTH TRUSTversusTHE SECRETARY, WORTH TRUST WORKERS UNION

2025 INSC 432Dismissed

The Worth Trust, a charitable organization that also runs commercial factories, was challenged by its workers' union for payment of bonus and ex-gratia for the year 1996-97. The union argued that the workers, employed in the Trust's factories, fall within the definition of "workmen" under the …

MAHARASHTRA STATE ROAD TRANSPORT CORPORATIONversusMAHADEO KRISHNA NAIK

2025 INSC 218Disposed off

Mahadeo Krishna Naik, a bus driver for Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC), was dismissed after a fatal accident in 1996. The Labour Court upheld his dismissal, but the corporation later obtained a Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal (MACT) award that placed sole blame on the lorry …

AJAY MALIKversusSTATE OF UTTARAKHAND & ANR.

2025 INSC 118Appeal(s) allowed

The case arose from FIR No. 60/2017 alleging wrongful confinement, trafficking and conspiracy against Ajay Malik for employing a tribal domestic worker. Malik sought quashing of the criminal proceedings and compounding of the offences, supported by a no‑objection affidavit from the complainant, …

DUSHYANT JANBANDHUversusM/S HYUNDAI AUTOEVER INDIA PVT. LTD.

2024 INSC 966Appeal(s) allowed

The appellant, an assistant manager, was terminated by the respondent employer alleging absenteeism, after a show‑cause notice and disciplinary inquiry. The appellant filed a petition under Section 15(2) of the Payment of Wages Act for unpaid wages and later approached the Industrial Tribunal under …

GANAPATI BHIKARAO NAIKversusNUCLEAR POWER CORPORATION OF INDIA LIMITED

2024 INSC 871Appeal(s) allowed

Ganapati Bhikarao Naik, the son‑in‑law of a land‑loser whose land was acquired for the Kaiga Atomic Power Project, was appointed as a helper under a rehabilitation scheme. After marital discord and a divorce proceeding, his father‑in‑law alleged that Naik was not a legitimate family member and the …

LENIN KUMAR RAYversusM/S EXPRESS PUBLICATIONS (MADURAI) LTD.

2024 INSC 802

The employee, Lenin Kumar Ray, was appointed as Junior Engineer and later promoted to Assistant Engineer in a newspaper publishing company, drawing a salary well above the pre‑amendment threshold of Rs.1,600 per month. He was relieved on 8 October 2003 with payment of one month’s salary in lieu of …

M/S BHARTI AIRTEL LIMITEDversusA.S. RAGHAVENDRA

2024 INSC 265Appeal(s) allowed

The respondent, A.S. Raghavendra, was appointed by Bharti Airtel Limited as Regional Business Head (South) in the grade of Senior Manager (B2)‑Sales with a salary of Rs.22 lakh per annum and supervised four Account Managers. After resigning in 2011, he claimed his resignation was forced and filed a …

MAHANADI COALFIELDS LTD.versusBRAJRAJNAGAR COAL MINES WORKERS’ UNION

2024 INSC 199

Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd. (the appellant) had engaged a contractor to transport crushed coal, employing 32 workmen from 1984 to 1994. The workers' union sought regularisation of all 32 workers under clauses of the National Coal Wage Agreement IV, leading to a settlement on 5 April 1997 that …

ERNAKULAM REGIONAL COOPERATIVE MILK PRODUCERS UNION LTD. ETC.versusNITHU & ORS. ETC.

2024 INSC 230Appeal(s) allowed

The Ernakulam Regional Cooperative Milk Producers Union Ltd. issued a 2011 notification for regular recruitment of Plant Attender, Grade‑III, prompting several workers to claim they were casual labourers who had served over 240 days in the preceding year and thus were entitled to regularisation …

UNION OF INDIA & ORS.versusK. SURI BABU

2023 INSC 1033Dismissed

K. Suri Babu, a helper (workman) employed by Nuclear Fuel Complex, Hyderabad, was alleged to have submitted a forged Class VI certificate and disciplinary action was initiated under the Central Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1965 (CCA Rules). The respondent contended …

HIND FILTERS LTD. & ANR.versusHIND FILTER EMPLOYEES’ UNION & ANR.

2023 INSC 799Appeal(s) allowed

The management of Hind Filters Ltd. applied to the Labour Court for permission to retrench workers, but the Labour Commissioner referred the dispute to the Labour Court despite the establishment employing more than 100 workmen, which under Section 10 of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, would …

BHARATIYA KAMGAR KARMACHARI MAHASANGHversusM/S. JET AIRWAYS LTD

2023 INSC 646Appeal(s) allowed

The Bharatiya Kamgar Karmachari Mahasangh (union) represented 169 workmen employed by Jet Airways on fixed‑term contracts who had each completed more than 240 days of service. The union claimed that under the Bombay Model Standing Order the workmen should be deemed permanent, but the airline relied …

THEIR WORKMEN THROUGH THE JOINT SECRETARY (WELFARE), FOOD CORPORATION OF INDIA EXECUTIVE STAFF UNION.versusEMPLOYER IN RELATION TO THE MANAGEMENT OF THE FOOD CORPORATION OF INDIA & ANR.

2023 INSC 588Disposed off

The Central Government Industrial Tribunal awarded reinstatement, regularisation and 75% back wages to 21 casual workers of the Food Corporation of India (FCI) whose retrenchment was held void. The management of FCI filed a writ petition challenging the award, obtained a conditional stay, but …

M/S. CREATIVE GARMENTS LTDversusKASHIRAM VERMA

2023 INSC 243Appeal(s) allowed

The employer, M/s. Creative Garments Ltd., appealed against a Labour Court award that reinstated employee Kashiram Verma with back wages. The employee never reported for duty despite multiple communications, and his permanent address was never furnished; only a "care of Union" address was provided. …

D.N. KRISHNAPPAversusTHE DEPUTY GENERAL MANAGER

2022 INSC 1273Appeal(s) allowed

The appellant, a workman dismissed from a bank in 1996, obtained a reinstatement award with back wages from the Central Government Industrial Tribunal (CGIT) dated 18 July 2007. The award was stayed by the High Court and only confirmed after the dismissal of writ appeals on 12 July 2013, after which …

JEETUBHA KHANSANGI JADEJAversusKUTCHH DISTRICT PANCHAYAT

2022 INSC 1006Appeal(s) allowed

The appellant, a watchman employed since 1992, was terminated in 2002 without notice or compliance with the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947. He claimed continuous service under Section 25B and sought reinstatement; the Labour Court and a Single Judge affirmed his right to reinstatement but denied …

STATE BANK OF INDIA AND ANOTHERversusAJAY KUMAR SOOD

2022 INSC 833Appeal(s) allowed

The Supreme Court examined a Division Bench judgment of the Himachal Pradesh High Court that affirmed a disciplinary dismissal of a bank employee but was written in an incomprehensible manner. The Court held that a judgment must be clear, logical and accessible to the parties and the public, and …

M/S MITRA S.P. (P) LTD. & ANR.versusDHIREN KUMAR

2022 INSC 795Disposed off

The workman, originally a Junior Supervisor, was transferred from Visakhapatnam to Jharsuguda but refused to report, leading to his suspension and dismissal. He challenged the dismissal before the Labour Court, which modified the order, reinstated him, and directed him to join at Jharsuguda, while …

CENTRAL BANK OF INDIA & OTHERSversusDRAGENDRA SINGH JADON

2022 INSC 782Dismissed

The respondent, a former agricultural assistant of the Central Bank of India, was dismissed in 1982 on charges of impersonating his brother in a recruitment test. An industrial tribunal in 2008 held the dismissal unjustified and ordered reinstatement without back wages. The respondent filed a 2009 …

RANBIR SINGHversusSK ROY, CHAIRMAN, LIFE INSURANCE CORP. OF INDIA & ANR.

2022 INSC 484Disposed off

The case concerned claims by thousands of Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) workers who had been employed as temporary, badli or part‑time staff between 20 May 1985 and 4 March 1991, seeking regularisation (absorption) under the Srivastav Award and earlier Tulpule and Jamdar Awards. The …

M/S BOMBAY CHEMICAL INDUSTRIESversusDEPUTY LABOUR COMMISSIONER & ANR.

2022 INSC 152Appeal(s) allowed

Bombay Chemical Industries (appellant) contested an application filed by a former employee (respondent No.2) before the Labour Court under Section 33C(2) of the Industrial Disputes Act seeking difference of wages for the period 2006‑2012, claiming he was employed as a salesman. The appellant denied …

PRADEEP S/O RAJKUMAR JAINversusMANGANESE ORE (INDIA) LIMITED & ORS.

2021 INSC 864Case Partly allowed

The appellant, a qualified Chartered Accountant, was appointed Manager (Finance) and later Deputy Chief (Finance) at Manganese Ore (India) Ltd. He was suspended and subsequently dismissed following a series of show-cause notices after reporting late to work due to his father's death. The High Court …

THE CHAIRMAN, STATE BANK OF INDIA ANDversusM. J. JAMES

2021 INSC 732Appeal(s) allowed

The former manager of the Bank of Cochin, M.J. James, was dismissed for sanctioning advances in violation of head‑office instructions. During the disciplinary inquiry he was denied the right to be represented by an officer of a bank‑employees' union other than the Bank of Cochin, which he claimed …

K.V. ANIL MITHRA & ANR.versusSREE SANKARACHARYA UNIVERSITY OF SANSKRIT & ANR.

2021 INSC 679Case Partly allowed

The appellants, daily‑wage non‑teaching staff of Sree Sankaracharya University, were regularised in 1996 and de‑regularised in 1997, leading to their termination. The University argued that the appointments were irregular and therefore fell outside the protection of the Industrial Disputes Act, …

P.B. NAYAK & ORS.versusMANAGING DIRECTOR, BHILAI STEEL PLANT & ORS.

2021 INSC 670Dismissed

The appellants, employees of a canteen operating in the Steel Club of Bhilai Steel Plant, challenged their dismissal under Section 58 of the Madhya Pradesh Shops and Establishments Act, 1958, arguing that the Act applied to the club. The respondents contended that the club was a "club not being a …

CAPARO ENGINEERING INDIA LTD.versusUMMED SINGH LODHI AND ANR.

2021 INSC 676Dismissed

Caparo Engineering India Ltd. transferred nine long‑serving workmen from its Dewas plant to a Chopanki facility 900 km away, changing their roles from labourers to supervisors and reducing the workforce at Dewas. The workmen contended that the transfer violated Section 9A of the Industrial Disputes …

MILKHI RAMversusHIMACHAL PRADESH STATE ELECTRICITY BOARD

2021 INSC 638Dismissed

The appellant, a daily‑wage employee of Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board, challenged his termination by filing a civil suit invoking Sections 25B and 25F of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, seeking reinstatement, regularisation and back wages. The civil court entertained the suit, held …

M/S. NEW VICTORIA MILLS & ORS.versusSHRIKANT ARYA

2021 INSC 552Appeal(s) allowed

The respondent, a supervisor at New Victoria Mills, applied for the Modified Voluntary Retirement Scheme (MVRS) by submitting a resignation on 12 July 2002. He later requested that his resignation be kept suspended until his provident fund dues were cleared, but the employer accepted his resignation …

SRI DORAIRAJ SPINTEXversusR CHITTIBABU & ORS

2021 INSC 527Disposed off

The management of Sri Dora Raj Spintax dismissed thirty‑one workmen after initiating disciplinary proceedings for alleged vandalism, while conciliation proceedings were pending on two separate industrial disputes raised by the workmen. The workmen claimed that the dismissals required prior …

RANBIR SINGHversusEXECUTIVE ENG. P.W.D

2021 INSC 439Case Partly allowed

Ranbir Singh, a daily‑wage worker employed by the Executive Engineering Public Works Department, was terminated in 1991 without the notice and retrenchment compensation mandated by Section 25F of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947. The Labour Court held the termination illegal and ordered his …

THE EMPLOYEES STATE INSURANCE CORPORATIONversusM/S TEXMO INDUSTRIES

2021 INSC 167Dismissed

The Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) inspected Texmo Industries and found that the company had underpaid ESI contributions by including conveyance allowance in the wage base. Texmo contested, arguing that conveyance allowance is not "wages" under Section 2(22) of the Employees' State …

TATE OF UTTARAKHAND & ORS.versusSMT. SURESHWATI

2021 INSC 32Appeal(s) allowed

The case concerned a claim by Smt. Sureshwati that her services as a clerk/assistant teacher in a private school turned government‑aided were illegally retrenched on 8 March 2006 without a disciplinary enquiry. The school contended that she had abandoned her post in July 1997 after marriage and had …

FICUS PAX PRIVATE LTD. & ORS.versusUNION OF INDIA & ORS.

2020 INSC 425Directions issued

The Supreme Court examined challenges by private employers, including Ficus Pax Private Ltd., to central and state orders issued under the Disaster Management Act, 2005 that compelled private establishments to pay full wages to all workers during the COVID‑19 lockdown. The petitioners argued that …

M/S WRITERS AND PUBLISHERS PVT. LTD.versusDR. AK MISHRA, OFFICIAL LIQUIDATOR

2020 INSC 283Dismissed

The Supreme Court dealt with contempt petitions filed by M/s Writers and Publishers Pvt. Ltd. (WPL) seeking the disbursement of proceeds from the sale of Super Bazar assets after the Court had earlier ordered a full refund of WPL's investment with interest, subject to deduction of profits. The Court …

VINOD RAVJIBHAI RAJPUTversusSTATE OF GUJARAT & ORS.

2020 INSC 191Appeal(s) allowed

Vinod Ravjibhai Rajput was first appointed as a part‑time Gallery Attendant in 1995 and later as a full‑time attendant in July 2002. He was terminated in 2004 on a policy ground, reverted to part‑time, and again terminated in December 2012 for not meeting conditions of a 2007 government resolution. …

OIL AND NATURAL GAS CORPORATIONversusKRISHAN GOPAL & ORS.

2020 INSC 147Directions issued

The Supreme Court examined a batch of appeals filed by Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) challenging High Court orders that regularised workmen based on the PCLU judgment. The Court questioned whether the PCLU decision correctly interpreted clause 2(ii) of ONGC’s Certified Standing Orders and …

RAJNEESH KHAJURIAversusM/S. WOCKHARDT LTD. & ANR.

2020 INSC 43Dismissed

Rajneesh Khajuria, a sales employee of Wockhardt Ltd., was transferred from Sagar to Mumbai and failed to report, after which his services were terminated. He filed a complaint under the Maharashtra Recognition of Trade Unions and Prevention of Unfair Labour Practices Act, 1971 alleging that the …

NANDKISHORE SHRAVAN AHIRRAOversusKOSAN INDUSTRIES (P) LTD.

2020 INSC 27Appeal(s) allowed

Nandkishore Shravan Ahirrao, a workman employed in the assembly department of Kosan Industries, was dismissed for causing a work disruption. The Labour Court, on reference under the Industrial Disputes Act, held the dismissal harsh and ordered his reinstatement with 25% back wages for the surplus …

JOHN D’ SOUZAversusKARNATAKA STATE ROAD TRANSPORT CORPORATION

2019 INSC 1147Case Partly allowed

John D’ Souza, a former bus conductor, was dismissed by Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation after a domestic enquiry that found him guilty of absenteeism. While an industrial dispute concerning his dismissal was pending before the Labour Court, the corporation sought permission to effectuate …

PREM SINGHversusSTATE OF UTTAR PRADESH & ORS.

2019 INSC 983Disposed off

Prem Singh, a welder, worked for about 37 years in a work‑charged establishment of the Uttar Pradesh government and was later regularised before superannuation. He claimed that the period spent in the work‑charged establishment should be counted as qualifying service for pension under the Uttar …

JAYANTIBHAI RAOJIBHAI PATELversusMUNICIPAL COUNCIL, NARKHED & ORS.

2019 INSC 934Disposed off

Jayantibhai Patel, a headmaster, was first cleared of misconduct in 1994 but a second inquiry—conducted without recorded reasons—found him guilty and led to his removal in 1996. The High Court later quashed the removal but denied back wages, reasoning that Patel had retired. The Supreme Court held …

STEEL AUTHORITY OF INDIA LTD. & ANR.versusJAGGU & ORS. ETC.

2019 INSC 727Disposed off

The case concerned 2,040 contract labourers employed in SAIL's captive limestone mine who, after a 1993 prohibition on contract labour under the CLRA Act, continued to work and claimed parity of wages with regular SAIL employees under the NJCS memorandum. The respondents sought relief under Section …

THE SUPERINTENDING ENGINEER TWAD BOARD & ANOTHERversusM. NATESAN ETC.

2019 INSC 672Disposed off

The respondents were engaged as temporary store watchmen on daily wages between 1986 and 1989 under a purely temporary engagement order that stipulated termination when the requirement ceased. After the stores were closed in 1990, the respondents were terminated and later obtained an award from the …

HINDUSTAN SANITARYWARE AND INDUSTRIES LTD. & OTHERSversusTHE STATE OF HARYANA

2019 INSC 584Appeal(s) allowed

The State of Haryana issued notifications under Section 5(2) of the Minimum Wages Act, 1948 fixing and revising minimum rates of wages, including provisions that classified unskilled workers as semi‑skilled after a certain period of experience, prohibited segregation of wages into allowances, …

GLOBE GROUND INDIA EMPLOYEES UNIONversusLUFTHANSA GERMAN AIRLINES & ANR.

2019 INSC 559Appeal(s) allowed

The Globe Ground India Employees Union raised an industrial dispute alleging that Globe Ground India Pvt Ltd, a subsidiary of Lufthansa German Airlines, closed its establishment and retrenched 106 workers. The union sought to implead Lufthansa, claiming it was the holding company and therefore a …

PUNJAB URBAN PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY & ANR.versusKARAMJIT SINGH

2019 INSC 529Appeal(s) allowed

The respondent, Karamjit Singh, was initially appointed as a daily‑wage chowkidar and later regularized through an Office Order that allegedly interpolated his name into the final list of employees, despite not having the requisite three years of continuous service. The Punjab Urban Planning and …

SUNIL KUMAR BISWASversusORDINANCE FACTORY BOARD & ORS.

2019 INSC 436Dismissed

Sunil Kumar Biswas and four other employees had worked for the Ordinance Factory Board for 25 years and sought regularisation of their services. They filed an original application before the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), which dismissed their claim, leading them to file a writ petition in …

FED. OF BANK OF INDIA STAFF UNIONS & ANR.versusUNION OF INDIA & ANR

2019 INSC 300Dismissed

The Federation of Bank of India Staff Unions and an employee sought to have three workmen nominated as directors of the Bank of India under the Nationalised Banks (Management and Miscellaneous Provisions) Scheme, 1970. The Central Government rejected the panel because the candidates had less than …

RAMAKRISHNA MISSION & ANR.versusKAGO KUNYA & ORS.

2019 INSC 295Appeal(s) allowed

The respondent, a hospital employee, challenged his superannuation order by filing a writ petition under Article 226 against Ramakrishna Mission and its hospital, alleging that the institution was a 'State' within Art.12 and thus amenable to writ jurisdiction. The High Court initially held the …

DEPUTY EXECUTIVE ENGINEERversusKUBERBHAI KANJIBHAI

2019 INSC 19Case Partly allowed

The respondent, a daily‑wage worker in the R&B Department of the State, was terminated in 1981 after working intermittently for about two years. After a lapse of fifteen years he filed a claim before the Labour Court, which ordered his reinstatement but awarded no back wages. The State appealed; the …

APSRTC & ORS.versusG. KONDAL RAO

2018 INSC 1173Leave granted

G. Kondal Rao, a contract conductor with APSRTC, was terminated after a departmental enquiry proved misconduct. He unsuccessfully challenged the termination through departmental and review mechanisms and then filed a writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution. The Single Judge of the High …

SRI MAHABIR PROSAD CHOUDHARYversusM/S. OCTAVIUS TEA AND INDUSTRIES LTD. AND ANR.

2018 INSC 1145Dismissed

The appellant, an accountant, was dismissed by the respondent company and the dispute was referred to the Fifth Industrial Tribunal under the West Bengal Industrial Disputes Rules, 1958. The workman appeared before the Tribunal while the company did not; the workman filed a written statement but the …

SHRI H.D. SHARMAversusNORTHERN INDIA TEXTILE RESEARCH ASSOCIATION

2018 INSC 1129Dismissed

The appellant, a workman, was dismissed for misconduct and the employer sought approval of the dismissal under Section 6E(2) of the Uttar Pradesh Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, which requires that the workman be paid wages for one month before dismissal. The appellant claimed that his monthly wages …

MANJU SAXENAversusUNION OF INDIA & ANR.

2018 INSC 1141Dismissed

Manju Saxena, a senior confidential secretary of HSBC Bank, was terminated after her post became redundant and she refused four alternate positions offered at the same pay scale, as well as a severance package. She raised an industrial dispute seeking an enhanced severance package, but the Central …

MANAGEMENT, HINDUSTAN MACHINE TOOLS LTDversusGHANSHYAM SHARMA

2018 INSC 1016Case Partly allowed

The respondent, Ghanshyam Sharma, worked as a casual helper for Management, Hindustan Machine Tools Ltd. from 10 June 1976 to 30 July 1977 and was terminated by an oral order on 31 July 1977. The termination gave rise to an industrial dispute that was referred to the Labour Court, which awarded …

M. L. SINGLAversusPUNJAB NATIONAL BANK AND ANR.

2018 INSC 841Dismissed

The employee M.L. Singla was dismissed by Punjab National Bank after a domestic enquiry that found him guilty of consuming liquor on duty and causing a cash shortage. He challenged the dismissal before the Labour Court, which set aside the dismissal and awarded 50% back wages, but the High Court …

FOOD CORPORATION OF INDIAversusGEN. SECY. FCI INDIA EMPLOYEES UNION & ORS.

2018 INSC 720Dismissed

The Food Corporation of India (FCI) employed 955 workers at its Chennai branch and disputed whether they were its employees or contract labourers hired through a cooperative society. The workers' union claimed they were permanent employees entitled to regularisation under the Industrial Disputes …

K.K. SURESH & ANR. ETC.versusFOOD CORPORATION OF INDIA & ORS. ETC.

2018 INSC 720Dismissed

The appellants, who worked as clerical staff in the premises of the Food Corporation of India (FCI) since 1997, filed writ petitions seeking regularisation and absorption as FCI employees. FCI contended that the appellants were appointed by the Head Load Workers Co‑operative Society and not by FCI, …

CURRENCY NOTE PRESS & ANR.versusN. N. SARDESAI & ORS.

2018 INSC 625Dismissed

The Currency Note Press, a government-owned corporation, was sued by 17 former employees who claimed overtime wages for work done between 1986 and 1990 under Section 33-C(2) of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947. The Labour Court dismissed their applications, but the Bombay High Court set aside that …

M/S. HARYANA SURAJ MALTING LTD.versusPHOOL CHAND

2018 INSC 537Disposed off

The case concerned whether an Industrial Tribunal or Labour Court loses its jurisdiction to set aside an ex‑parte award once the award becomes enforceable under Section 17A of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947. The appellant, Haryana Suraj Malting Ltd., sought to have an ex‑parte award against …

PARADEEP PHOSPHATES LIMITEDversusSTATE OF ORISSA & ORS.

2018 INSC 377Dismissed

Paradeep Phosphates Ltd., a public sector undertaking, raised the retirement age of its employees from 58 to 60 years in 1998 on a government directive to curb losses. When the financial situation did not improve, the government ordered a rollback to 58 years in 2001, and the company withdrew the …

MOHD. ALIversusSTATE OF H.P. AND OTHERS

2018 INSC 346Dismissed

Mohd. Ali was employed as a casual labourer on a muster‑roll at an agricultural seed farm from 1980 to 1991, completing the statutory 240 days of work only in the years 1980‑1982 and 1986‑1989. He ceased work in 1991 without informing his employer. In 2005 he sought relief under Section 10 of the …

BHUPENDRA KUMAR CHIMANBHAI KACHIYA PATELversusDIVISIONAL CONTROLLER GSRTC NADIAD

2018 INSC 218Dismissed

The Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation (GSRTC) and the Union of its workers entered into a settlement on 21‑12‑1989, wherein Clause 20 prescribed that Badali Kamdars would be regularised and absorbed into the permanent conductor cadre after completing 180 days of continuous service in that …

RAJESHWAR MAHTOversusALOK KUMAR GUPTA, G.M. M/S BIRLA CORPORATION LTD.

2018 INSC 197Disposed off

The employee Rajeshwar Mahto was terminated by Birla Corporation Ltd. and challenged the termination before an Industrial Tribunal, which held he was not a "workman". The High Court set aside that award, declaring him a workman, but the Supreme Court later allowed the corporation's appeal, …

KURUKSHETRA UNIVERSITYversusPRITHVI SINGH

2018 INSC 143Appeal(s) allowed

The University terminated security guard Prithvi Singh, a daily‑rated employee, after a departmental enquiry found him guilty of misconduct for misbehaving with a research scholar. The Labour Court, on reference under Section 10 of the Industrial Disputes Act, held that the enquiry was illegal, …

SMT. K. A. ANNAMMAversusTHE SECRETARY, COCHIN CO-OPERATIVE HOSPITAL SOCIETY LTD.

2018 INSC 26Appeal(s) allowed

The employee of a Kerala co‑operative hospital was dismissed and challenged the termination before the Labour Court under the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 (ID Act). The Labour Court set aside the dismissal, but the employer obtained a writ setting aside the award. The Supreme Court examined whether …

NATIONAL KAMGAR UNIONversusKRAN RADER PVT. LTD. & ORS.

2018 INSC 3Disposed off

The National Kamgar Union (appellant) challenged the closure of Kran Rader Pvt. Ltd.'s manufacturing unit, alleging that more than 100 workers were employed and that the employer failed to comply with Section 25-K of Chapter VB of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947. The Industrial Court had held that …

DISTRICT DEVELOPMENT OFFICER & ANR.versusSATISH KANTILAL AMRELIA

2017 INSC 1148Case Partly allowed

The respondent, a daily‑wage peon‑cum‑driver employed by the Gujarat Panchayat Department, was terminated in February 1992. He challenged the termination in both a civil suit and an industrial reference before the Labour Court, which held that the termination violated Section 25‑G of the Industrial …

MANAGEMENT OF BHARAT HEAVY ELECTRICALS LTD.versusM. MANI

2017 INSC 1088Appeal(s) allowed

Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd. (BHEL) dismissed two drivers, M. Mani and the late T.A. Mathivanan, after a departmental enquiry found them guilty of theft of a heavy machine while on duty. The employees were later acquitted of the theft charge in a criminal trial under IPC s.379. They challenged …

MIHIR KUMAR HAZARA CHOUDHURYversusLIFE INSURANCE CORPN. & ANR.

2017 INSC 881Dismissed

M.K. Hazra Chowdhury, an Assistant of Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC), was found to have issued premium receipts to policyholders without actually receiving the premiums. He admitted the act in his reply, citing workload and family pressures, and sought leniency. A departmental enquiry …

AVISHEK RAJA & ORS.versusSANJAY GUPTA

2017 INSC 488Disposed off

The Supreme Court examined a large group of contempt petitions filed by newspaper establishments alleging that they had failed to implement the Majithia Wage Board Award, which had been upheld by the Court in a 2014 judgment. The petitioners claimed wilful disobedience of the award, seeking civil …

WORKMEN RASTRIYA COLLIERY MAZDOOR SANGHversusBHARAT COKING COAL LTD. & ANR.

2016 INSC 937Appeal(s) allowed

The Rashtriya Colliery Mazdoor Sangh, representing 14 workmen of BCCL's Balihari Colliery, obtained a 1996 Industrial Tribunal award directing their regularisation without back wages. The Jharkhand High Court in 2004 modified the award, stipulating that the employer must give preference to these …

A. SATYANARAYANA REDDY AND OTHERSversusPRESIDING OFFICER, LABOUR COURT AND OTHERS

2016 INSC 1202Appeal(s) allowed

The appellants were employees of a government undertaking who were laid off and later transferred to another company. The Government of Andhra Pradesh issued a Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) offering a special compensation package, which the appellants accepted, but the VRS did not provide for …

STATE BANK OF INDIA & ORS.versusNEELAM NAG

2016 INSC 878Case Partly allowed

The respondent, a senior assistant of State Bank of India, was alleged to have caused a loss of over Rs.44 lakh by facilitating fraudulent credit and misplacing clearing instruments in May 2006. A criminal case under Sections 409 and 34 of the IPC was filed in 2007, but the trial progressed slowly, …

AVTAR SINGHversusUNION OF INDIA & ORS.

2017 INSC 1116Reference answered

The petitioners challenged the cancellation of their appointments and termination of service on the ground that they had either omitted or misrepresented information about criminal prosecutions, arrests, convictions or pendency of cases in the verification forms required for recruitment. The Supreme …

RAJ KUMARversusDIRECTOR OF EDUCATION & ORS.

2016 INSC 318Appeal(s) allowed

The appellant, a permanent driver at DAV Public School, was declared surplus and retrenched by the school’s Managing Committee in 2003. The school served a notice under Section 25F(a) of the Industrial Disputes Act but failed to send the statutory notice to the appropriate government authority under …

NASHIK WORKERS UNIONversusHINDUSTAN AERONAUTICS LIMITED

2016 INSC 1170Appeal(s) allowed

The Nashik Workers Union filed several complaints under the Maharashtra Recognition of Trade Unions and Prevention of Unfair Labour Practices Act, 1971 seeking reinstatement and back wages for trainees of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). The dispute turned on whether, for HAL, the "appropriate …

MIS RAHMAN INDUSTRIES PVT. LTDversusSTATE OF LJ.P. AND OTHERS

2016 INSC 53Case Partly allowed

Mis Rahman Industries Pvt. Ltd. appealed against a High Court order that mandatorily directed the Government of Uttar Pradesh to refer a dispute raised by workmen to a Labour Court for adjudication. The Supreme Court examined whether such a direction infringed the Government's statutory discretion …

PRABHAKARversusJOINT DIRECTOR, SERICULTURE DEPARTMENT &ANR.

2015 INSC 1014Dismissed

The petitioner, a former clerk of the Karnataka Sericulture Department, was terminated in 1985 but only raised an industrial dispute in 1999, fourteen years later, alleging illegal termination under the Industrial Disputes Act. The Labour Court awarded reinstatement without back wages, which the …

NANDKISHORE LALBHAI MEHTAversusNEW ERA FABRICS PVT. LTD. & ORS.

2015 INSC 490Dismissed

The appellant, Nandkishore Lalbhai Mehta, entered into a sale agreement with the respondents for a plot in Mahim, subject to obtaining consent from the Mill Mazdoor Sabha (labour union) and various statutory permissions. The union refused consent, and the respondents declared the agreement cancelled …

M/S ARIANE ORGACHEM PVT. LTD.versusWYETH EMPLOYEES UNION & ORS.

2015 INSC 372Dismissed

The appellant, Ariane Orgachem Pvt. Ltd., took over the Wyeth Ltd. pharmaceutical factory and its workers under s.25FF of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947. It later introduced a Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) which 45 of the 143 workers accepted. The Wyeth Employees Union later demanded …

ONGC LTD.versusPETROLEUM COAL LABOUR UNION & ORS.

2015 INSC 338Dismissed

The Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) appointed security workmen through contractors, a cooperative society and later by direct memorandum, without following its recruitment rules. The workmen claimed regularisation after completing more than 240 days of service, alleging an unfair labour …

UMRALA GRAM PANCHAYATversusTHE SECRETARY, MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES UNION & ORS.

2015 INSC 273Dismissed

Workmen employed as safai kamdars by Umralagram Gram Panchayat were classified as daily‑wage workers despite having served for periods ranging from five to eighteen years and performing the same duties and hours as permanent employees. They raised an industrial dispute seeking permanency and …

CHAUHARYA TRIPATHI & ORS.versusL.L.C. OF INDIA & ORS.

2015 INSC 950Dismissed

The Supreme Court examined appeals filed by several Development Officers of the Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) challenging a High Court order that set aside an award of the Central Government Industrial Tribunal. The core issue was whether these Development Officers qualified as "workmen" under …

MACKINON MACKENZIE & COMPANY LTD.versusMACKINNON EMPLOYEES UNION

2015 INSC 154Dismissed

Mackinnon Mackenzie & Co. Ltd. retrenched about 98 workmen by serving a notice on 27 July 1992, claiming closure of its clearing and forwarding department due to severe financial losses. The workmen’s union challenged the retrenchment, alleging non‑compliance with the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947: …

M/S BENNET COLEMAN & CO. LTDversusSTATE OF BIHAR & ORS

2015 INSC 103Case Allowed

The case concerned a criminal prosecution of Bennet Coleman & Co. Ltd under Section 25U read with Section 29 of the Industrial Disputes Act for allegedly failing to implement the recommendations of the Manisana Wage Board constituted under the Working Journalists Act. The High Court had held the …

K.V.S. RAMversusBANGALORE METROPOLITAN TRANSPORT CORPORATION

2015 INSC 38

The appellant, a driver employed by Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation since 1985, was charged in 1990 with securing his appointment by a false transfer certificate. An enquiry was initiated in 1992 but the report was only submitted in 2002, leading to a dismissal order in 2004. The …

K. K. SAKSENAversusINTERNATIONAL COMMISSION ON IRRIGATION AND DRAINAGE & ORS.

2014 INSC 892Dismissed

K.K. Saksena, a former Secretary of the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID), challenged his termination in a writ petition under Article 226, alleging arbitrariness and violation of Article 14. The Delhi High Court dismissed the petition, holding that ICID is not a "State" …

DURGAPUR CASUAL WORKERS UNION & ORS.versusFOOD CORPORATION OF INDIA & ORS.

2014 INSC 848Appeal(s) allowed

The Food Corporation of India (FCI) closed its rice mill and thereafter employed 49 former contract workers as casual daily‑wage employees. The workers sought regularisation, alleging that their continued casualisation constituted an unfair labour practice under item 10 of the Fifth Schedule of the …

BHAVNAGAR MUNICIPAL CORPORATION ETC.versusJADEJA GOVUBHA CHHANUBHA & ANR.

2014 INSC 832Case Partly allowed

The respondent, a daily‑wage conductor, was employed by Bhavnagar Municipal Corporation from 3 October 1987 to 31 March 1989 and was terminated without payment of retrenchment compensation. The Labour Court held the termination illegal, ordering reinstatement with 65% back wages; the Gujarat High …

COLLECTOR SINGHversusL.M.L. LTD., KANPUR

2014 INSC 769Appeal(s) allowed

Collector Singh, a semi‑skilled workman, was dismissed by L.M.L. Ltd. after a departmental inquiry found him guilty of throwing jute/cotton waste balls at a foreman and allegedly using abusive language. The Labour Court upheld the dismissal, relying on the appellant's apology letter, and the High …

RAGHUBIR SINGHversusGENERAL MANAGER, HARYANA ROADWAYS, HISSAR

2014 INSC 592Appeal(s) allowed

Raghuvir Singh, a conductor with Haryana Roadways, was arrested in 1994 on a criminal charge of ticket‑money misappropriation and was terminated from service without a proper enquiry or show‑cause notice. After being acquitted in 2002, he sought reinstatement; the dispute was referred by the State …

INDIA YAMAHA MOTOR PVT. LTD.versusDHARAM SINGH & ANR.

2014 INSC 547Dismissed

India Yamaha Motor Pvt. Ltd., the management of a manufacturing unit, challenged the competence of 113 workmen to be represented before the Industrial Tribunal by five elected workmen. The dispute centered on whether Section 6‑1 of the Uttar Pradesh Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 and Rule 40 of the …

BHUVNESH KUMAR DWIVEDIversusM/S HINDALCO INDUSTRIES LTD.

2014 INSC 335Appeal(s) allowed

Bhuvnesh Kumar Dwivedi was employed by Hindalco Industries Ltd as a labour supervisor from 30‑12‑1992 to 27‑07‑1998. Although the employer periodically terminated his service on the pretext of "sanction expired" and re‑appointed him on short contracts, the workman rendered continuous service of …

SRI RAM BUILDERSversusSTATE OF M.P. & ORS.

2014 INSC 343Dismissed

Sri Ram Builders entered into a BOT agreement with the Madhya Pradesh Road Transport Corporation (MPRTC) to construct a bus‑stand‑cum‑commercial complex on land leased by the Indore Development Authority (IDA). The High Court ordered MPRTC to hand over possession of the land and directed specific …

GOA FOUNDATIONversusUNION OF INDIA & ORS.

2014 INSC 962Disposed off

The Supreme Court examined public‑interest petitions concerning illegal iron‑ore mining in Goa, the validity of the Justice Shah Commission report, and the status of mining leases deemed to have arisen from pre‑1961 Portuguese concessions. It held that the Commission’s report could not be quashed …

RAJASTHAN STATE TPT CORPN. & ANR.versusBAJRANG LAL

2014 INSC 192Appeal(s) allowed

The Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation (the Corporation) appealed against judgments that had upheld a civil suit filed by its former trainee conductor, Bajrang Lal, challenging his removal from service for alleged embezzlement. The lower courts had found that the disciplinary enquiry …

STATE BANK OF PATIALA AND ANOTHERversusRAM NIWAS BANSAL (DEAD) THROUGH LRS.

2014 INSC 159Disposed off

Ram Niwas Bansal, a bank officer, was charged with financial irregularities and dismissed on 23 April 1985. The High Court set aside the dismissal, directing reinstatement only to enable a fresh enquiry because the enquiry report had not been furnished, and ordered back‑wages until the earlier of …

HARI NANDAN PRASAD & ANR.versusEMPLOYER L/R TO MANGMT.OF FCI & ANR.

2014 INSC 104Case Partly allowed

The appellants, Hari Nandan Prasad and Govind Kumar Chaudhary, were casual daily‑wage workers of the Food Corporation of India who were terminated after more than 240 days of continuous service without notice, pay in lieu of notice or retrenchment compensation, violating Section 25‑F of the …

ABP PVT. LTD. & ANR.versusUNION OF INDIA & ORS.

2014 INSC 82Dismissed

The petitioners, a consortium of newspaper management firms, challenged the constitutionality of the Working Journalists and Other Newspaper Employees (Conditions of Service) and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1955 and its 1974 amendment, alleging violations of Articles 14, 19(1)(a) and 19(1)(g) of …

TAPASH KUMAR PAULversusBSNL & ANR.

2014 INSC 59Appeal(s) allowed

Tapash Kumar Paul, a workman employed by BSNL, was terminated in violation of Section 25‑F of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947. The Central Government Industrial Tribunal ordered his reinstatement but awarded only Rs 20,000 as compensation for back wages because the management failed to produce …

J.H. PATEL (D) BY LRS. AND ORS.versusNUBOARD MANUFACTURING CO. LTD. & ORS.

[2014] 1 S.C.R. 773Case Partly allowed

Three union officials, declared as protected workmen, were dismissed after the employer alleged they had filed a false police complaint against senior officers. The criminal court had acquitted the officers, and the employer issued a charge‑sheet without conducting a departmental inquiry, relying on …

MANAGEMENT OF SUNDARAM INDUSTRIES LTD.versusSUNDARAM INDUSTRIES EMPLOYEES UNION

2013 INSC 833Dismissed

The appellant, Sundaram Industries Ltd., directed its moulders to place production bags on an electronic weighing scale after their shift, which required extra effort and time without additional pay. Thirteen moulders refused, were suspended and later dismissed for alleged misconduct, persistent …

B.S.N.L.versusBHURUMAL

2013 INSC 821Disposed off

The respondent, Bhurumal, claimed that he had worked as a daily‑wage lineman for BSNL for about 15 years, suffered an electric shock on duty and was subsequently denied reinstatement, alleging illegal termination under section 25F of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947. The Industrial Tribunal and the …

STATE OF JHARKHAND AND ANOTHERversusHARIHAR YADAV AND OTHERS

2013 INSC 775Disposed off

The Bihar Hill Area Lift Irrigation Corporation (BHALCO), a government company of Bihar, was transferred to the newly created Jharkhand Hill Area Lift Irrigation Corporation (JHALCO) after the bifurcation of Bihar under the Bihar Reorganisation Act, 2000. Employees of the erstwhile BHALCO filed writ …

E.S.IC. MEDICAL OFFICER'S ASSOCIATIONversusE.S.L.C. & ANR.

2013 INSC 769Dismissed

The ESIC Medical Officer's Association, representing medical officers recruited by the Employees' State Insurance Corporation after 1974, claimed a monthly allowance of Rs.200, arguing that they were workmen like deputed doctors and thus entitled to the same benefits. The Central Government …

BALWANT RAI SALUJA & ANR. ETC. ETC.versusAIR INDIA LTD. & ORS.

2013 INSC 755Matter referred to larger bench

The workmen employed in the canteen of Air India, which was operated by Chef Air, a unit of the Hotel Corporation of India (HCI), claimed they were regular employees of Air India. Air India argued that HCI was a separate legal entity and that it had no control over the workers' hiring, wages, or …

STATE OF MAHARASHTRA AND ANR.versusSARVA SHRAMIK SANGH, SANGLI AND ORS.

2013 INSC 708Disposed off

The State of Maharashtra terminated the services of 256 workmen employed on 25 lift‑irrigation schemes after transferring the schemes to a sugar factory. The workmen claimed entitlement to reinstatement and backwages, arguing that the termination was a breach of Section 25N of the Industrial …

DAVALSAB HUSAINSAB MULLAversusNORTH WEST KARNATAKA ROAD TRANSPORT CORPORATION

2013 INSC 652Dismissed

The appellant, a driver for the North West Karnataka Road Transport Corporation, travelled on a corporation bus without a ticket and subsequently abused and threatened the checking inspector, repeating similar misconduct the next day. A disciplinary enquiry found the misconduct proved, taking into …

M/S. TATA IRON & STEEL CO. LTD.versusSTATE OF JHARKHAND & ORS.

2013 INSC 625Appeal(s) allowed

Tata Iron & Steel Ltd. (Tata Steel) sold its cement division to Lafarge India under a Business Transfer Agreement, which purportedly transferred the employees to the buyer. The transferred workers later complained that they were forced to work for Lafarge without consent and sought to be taken back …

DEEPALI GUNDU SURWASEversusKRANTI JUNIOR ADHYAPAK MAHAVIDYALAYA (D.ED.) AND OTHERS

2013 INSC 529Appeal(s) allowed

The appellant, a teacher in a private aided school, refused to contribute to a tax demand and was suspended and later terminated without proper approval or a fair inquiry, violating the Maharashtra Employees of Private Schools (Conditions of Service) Act, 1977 and principles of natural justice. The …

STATE OF BIHAR & ORSversusARBIND

2013 INSC 497Disposed off

Arbind, a headmaster, was suspended pending a departmental enquiry and was required to remain at the headquarters. His salary and subsistence allowance were not paid, forcing him to leave the headquarters due to poverty, after which he missed the enquiry and was dismissed ex‑parte. He challenged the …

BHAVNAGAR MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONversusSALIMBHAI UMARBHAI MANSURI

2013 INSC 471Appeal(s) allowed

The respondent was engaged as a daily‑wage helper for two fixed periods totaling 54 days, after which his service automatically terminated as per the contract. He raised an industrial dispute alleging that his termination amounted to retrenchment under the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, seeking …

STATE OF GUJARAT & ORS.versusPWD EMPLOYEES UNION & ORS. ETC

2013 INSC 450Disposed off

The Gujarat government, after representations by labour unions, issued a resolution on 17 October 1988 to regularise daily‑wage and semi‑skilled workers across all departments, providing graded benefits based on years of service under Section 258 of the Industrial Disputes Act. The applicability of …

RAJASTHAN STATE ROAD TRANSPORT CORPORATION AND ANOTHERversusSATYA PRAKASH

2013 INSC 230Appeal(s) allowed

The respondent, a daily‑wage bus conductor employed by Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation for only a few months, was dismissed after a departmental inquiry found he had collected fare without issuing tickets. He filed a civil suit, which was dismissed for lack of jurisdiction, and …

ASST. ENGINEER, RAJASTHAN DEV. CORP. & ANR.versusGITAM SINGH

2013 INSC 68Case Partly allowed

The Supreme Court examined an appeal by the employer, Asst. Engineer, Rajasthan Development Corp., against a Labour Court award that ordered reinstatement of a daily‑wage workman, Gitam Singh, with continuity of service and 25% back wages after his termination was held to violate Section 25‑F of the …

M/S ATLAS CYCLE (HARYANA) LTD.versusKITAB SINGH

2013 INSC 59Dismissed

Kitab Singh, a workman employed by Atlas Cycle (Haryana) Ltd. since 1977, alleged that he was assaulted and forced to resign on 1 October 1992 after being accused of theft. He wrote to the Chief Minister and sent a notice to the company, claiming the resignation was not voluntary. The Labour Court …

PRAVIN GADA AND ANOTHERversusCENTRAL BANK OF INDIA AND OTHERS

2012 INSC 557Disposed off

The Supreme Court dealt with the sale of immovable property of Jay Electric Wire Corporation Ltd., a company under liquidation, which had been sold to the appellants for Rs. 2.50 crore in 2006. Secured creditors and the workmen's union challenged the sale, alleging procedural irregularities, unfair …

M.R. PRABHAKAR AND OTHERSversusCANARA BANK AND OTHERS

2012 INSC 443Dismissed

The appellants were officers of Canara Bank who resigned between 1986 and June 1993, i.e., before the statutory settlement dated 29‑Oct‑1993 and the Canara Bank Employees' Pension Regulations, 1995 came into force. They claimed entitlement to a pension in lieu of the Contributory Providable Fund, …

JITENDRA NATH SINGHversusTHE OFFICIAL LIQUIDATOR & ORS.

2012 INSC 415Appeal(s) allowed

The appellant workmen sought priority over the sale proceeds of unsecured assets of UMI Special Steels Ltd., arguing that under Sections 529 and 529A of the Companies Act, 1956, workmen's dues should rank ahead of secured creditors on those assets. The respondents, representing the secured …

SUNIL KR. GHOSH & ORS.versusK. RAM CHANDRAN & ORS.

2011 INSC 811Appeal(s) allowed

The workers of Philips India Ltd. opposed the transfer of their factory to Kitchen Appliances India Ltd. and refused to join the new employer. After the Labour Department declined to refer their dispute to a tribunal, the workers filed a writ petition seeking retirement and retrenchment benefits. …

AIR INDIA CABIN CREW ASSN. & ORS.versusUNION OF INDIA & ORS.

2011 INSC 808Dismissed

The Air India Cabin Crew Association challenged the management’s revised promotion policy and the government’s 2003 directive that equalised the retirement and flying ages of male Flight Pursers and female Air Hostesses. The petitioners argued that these changes violated earlier bilateral …

SIEMENS LTD. & ANOTHERversusSIEMENS EMPLOYEES UNION & ANOTHER

2011 INSC 754Appeal(s) allowed

Siemens Ltd. issued a 2007 notification inviting workmen to apply for a two‑year Officer Trainee programme, after which successful candidates would be designated as Junior Executive Officers. The Siemens Employees Union alleged that this scheme violated clause 7 of a 1982 settlement (prohibiting …

M/S THERMAX LTD. & ORS.versusK.M. JOHNY & ORS.

2011 INSC 716

Thermax Ltd. entered into purchase orders with K.M. Johny’s firms for storage tanks and consumables. The contracts fell apart and Johny alleged non‑payment of large sums, filing three earlier complaints that were closed as civil matters. In 2002 he lodged another complaint before a magistrate …

M/S. DELHI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT PVT. LTD.versusUNION OF INDIA & ORS.

2011 INSC 686Disposed off

The case concerned 136 contract workers who had been employed as trolley retrievers at Delhi airports and sought regularisation after the Central Government’s 2004 notification under the Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act, 1970 (CLRAA) prohibited such contract labour in the Airports …

BIHAR STATE ELECTRICITY BOARD & ANR.versusRAM DEO PRASAD SINGH & ORS.

2011 INSC 663Appeal(s) allowed

The respondents, former security guards of the Patratu Thermal Power Station, were dismissed in 1975 and filed a civil suit in Patna in 1979 seeking reinstatement, which the trial court allowed. The Bihar State Electricity Board appealed, and the appeal was heard by the Additional District Judge, …

DEVINDER SINGHversusMUNICIPAL COUNCIL, SANAUR

2011 INSC 293Appeal(s) allowed

Devinder Singh was engaged by the Municipal Council, Sanaur as a clerk on a contract basis from August 1994 and his services were terminated on 30 September 1996 without the notice or compensation required under Section 25‑F of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947. The Labour Court awarded him …

RANBIR SINGHversusTHE EXECUTIVE ENGINEER

2011 INSC 4Appeal(s) allowed

The appellant, a daily‑wage workman, was terminated in 1999 after being implicated in a criminal case, later acquitted, and filed an industrial dispute alleging violation of Section 25(f) of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947. The Labour Court ordered his reinstatement with 50% back wages. The State …

KULDEEP SINGHversusG.M., INSTRUMENT DESIGN DEVELOPMENT AND FACILITIES CENTRE & ANR.

2010 INSC 849Appeal(s) allowed

Kuldeep Singh, a data entry operator, was terminated by the Instrument Design Development and Facilities Centre without complying with the notice and compensation requirements of Section 25F of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947. He made numerous representations to various government officials, after …

AMAR CHAKRAVARTY & ORS.versusMARUTI SUZUKI INDIA LTD.

2010 INSC 828Appeal(s) allowed

Amar Chakravarty and other workmen were dismissed by Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. on allegations of grave misconduct without being afforded a domestic enquiry. The workmen raised an industrial dispute, which was referred to the Labour Court under Section 10(1)(c) of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947. …

INCHARGE OFFICER AND ANR.versusSHANKAR SHETTY

2010 INSC 561Case Partly allowed

Shankar Shetty was engaged as a daily wager by the appellants from 1978 and worked intermittently for about seven years before being terminated in 1985. He claimed that his termination violated Section 25F of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, which prescribes a procedure for retrenchment of daily …

TRIVENI ENGINEERING & INDUST. LTD.versusJASWANT SINGH & ANR.

2010 INSC 498Appeal(s) allowed

Jaswant Singh, an employee of Triveni Engineering, was transferred to another sugar mill and terminated when he did not report to the new location. He claimed to be a "workman" under the U.P. Industrial Disputes Act and challenged the transfer and termination via a writ petition. The High Court …

SUSHIL KUMAR SINGHALversusTHE REGIONAL MANAGER, PUNJAB NATIONAL BANK

2010 INSC 493Dismissed

The appellant, a peon of Punjab National Bank, was convicted under Section 409 IPC for embezzling Rs 5,000 and was dismissed from service. While his criminal appeal upheld the conviction, the appellate court released him on probation under the Probation of Offenders Act, 1958. The bank dismissed him …

TATA MEMORIAL HOSPITAL WORKERS UNIONversusTATA MEMORIAL CENTRE AND ANOTHER

2010 INSC 487Appeal(s) allowed

The Tata Memorial Hospital Workers Union, a trade union registered under the Maharashtra Recognition of Trade Unions and Prevention of Unfair Labour Practices Act, 1971, sought to maintain its recognition against a rival workers' association. The rival argued that the Tata Memorial Centre (TMC) was …

VIJAYA BANKversusSHYAMAL KUMAR LODH

2010 INSC 353Dismissed

Shyamal Kumar Lodh, an employee of Vijaya Bank, filed an application before the Labour Court at Dibrugarh for suspension/subsistence allowance under Section 33C(2) of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947. The bank contended that the Court, constituted by the State Government, lacked jurisdiction …

M/S. EMPIRE INDUSTRIES LTD.versusSTATE OF MAHARASHTRA & ORS.

2010 INSC 156Dismissed

The appellant, Empire Industries Ltd., locked out its Garlick Engineering factory over three demands: cessation of agitational activities, a ceiling on dearness allowance, and retrenchment of workers. The State of Maharashtra, exercising power under section 10(3) of the Industrial Disputes Act, …

SANTURAM YADAV AND ANR.versusSECRETARY, KRISHI UPAJ M.S. SEMETARA AND ANR.

2010 INSC 101Appeal(s) allowed

Santuram Yadav and other daily‑wage workers were employed as Nakedar and, facing removal, entered into a compromise with their employer that provided for reinstatement and seniority from their first appointment. The Labour Court initially awarded reinstatement, but the workers were later dismissed …

STATE OF KARNATAKA & ORS.versusGANPATHI CHAYA NAIK & ORS.

2010 INSC 55Case Allowed

The respondents, who were daily‑wage workers such as plantation watchmen, wireless operators and helpers, claimed regularisation of service after more than ten years of continuous employment. The State of Karnataka contended that the respondents were not recruited under the prescribed recruitment …

RAMESH KUMARversusSTATE OF HARYANA

2010 INSC 41Appeal(s) allowed

Ramesh Kumar was appointed on a casual basis as a Mali in the Haryana Public Works Department in December 1991 and was terminated on 31 January 1993 without any notice or retrenchment compensation. He claimed that he had worked more than 240 days in the preceding 12 months, invoking the protection …

HARJINDER SINGHversusPUNJAB STATE WAREHOUSING CORPORATION

2010 INSC 9Appeal(s) allowed

Harjinder Singh, a workman employed by Punjab State Warehousing Corporation, was retrenched despite seniority over junior employees. The Labour Court awarded him reinstatement with 50% back wages under Section 25G of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947. The Punjab & Haryana High Court, exercising writ …

M/S. REETU MARBLESversusPRABHAKANT SHUKLA

2009 INSC 1279Appeal(s) allowed

The respondent, an accountant employed by M/s Reetu Marbles, was terminated on 11 June 1987. The Labour Court held the termination illegal, ordered reinstatement but denied any back wages, noting the respondent failed to prove he was unemployed during the 15‑year gap before the award. The Allahabad …

DIRECTOR, FISHERIES TERMINAL DIVISIONversusBHIKUBHAI MEGHAJIBHAI CHAVDA

2009 INSC 1224Dismissed

The respondent, a daily‑wage watchman employed by the Director, Fisheries Terminal Division, was terminated without notice. He claimed reinstatement and back wages before the Labour Court, which ordered reinstatement with 20% back wages; the High Court affirmed. The employer appealed, contending …