Bombay High Court

Ashok Laxman RuptakkeversusUttara Foods and Feeds Private Limited

Decided: 17 August 2026
Disposal: Disposed Off

Holding

The Court held that there was no breach of the Supreme Court order and therefore dismissed the writ and contempt petitions.

Summary

Ashok Laxman Ruptakke filed a writ petition seeking enforcement of a Supreme Court order dated 13 July 2026 that directed his reinstatement by Uttara Foods and Feeds Private Limited, while staying the payment of back wages. The employer claimed reinstatement by letter dated 1 August 2026, effective from 13 July 2026, and argued compliance with the Supreme Court direction. The petitioner complained that he was confined to a security cabin without any work, contending that the employer was obligated to provide work. The High Court observed that the Supreme Court order expressly stated that the employer was not required to assign work, and therefore found no breach of the order. Consequently, the writ petition and the accompanying contempt petition were disposed, with the court reserving the petitioner’s right to approach again if needed after the pending Special Leave Petition before the Supreme Court.

Issues considered

Whether the employer complied with the Supreme Court order directing reinstatement of the petitioner.
Whether the employer’s failure to assign work to the reinstated employee amounts to contempt of court.
Whether the writ petition seeking enforcement of the order should be dismissed.

Subjects

reinstatement
back wages
contempt
writ petition
Supreme Court order
employment law

Judgment

Vaishnavi                                            48-CP-376-2026


               IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
                      CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
                   CONTEMPT PETITION NO. 376 OF 2026
                                  IN
                     WRIT PETITION NO. 5244 OF 2022

Ashok Laxman Ruptakke                              ...Petitioner

                    V/s.

Uttara Foods and Feeds Private
Limited                                            ...Respondent
                              ________________
Ms. Samiksha R. Kanani, for Petitioner.
Mr. Varun Joshi (through V.C) a/w Mr. Rishabh N. Chaurasia i/b Mr.
Chetan Arvind Alai, for Respondent.
                              ________________


                                         CORAM: SANDEEP V. MARNE, J.

                                         DATED: 17 AUGUST 2026


P.C.:


1)          Mr. Joshi, the learned counsel appearing for Respondent-
employer, invites attention of the Court to order dated 13 July 2026
passed by the Hon’ble Supreme Court, by which the Respondent is
directed to reinstate the Petitioner. However, direction to pay back wages
has been stayed. Mr. Joshi submits that, accordingly, the Petitioner has
been reinstated in service by letter dated 1 August 2026, with effect from
13 July 2026.



                                  Page No.1 of 2
                                 17 August 2026
Vaishnavi                                                  48-CP-376-2026


2)          Ms. Kanani, the learned counsel appearing for the Petitioner,
complaints that the Petitioner is made to sit in the security cabin
without allotment of any work. However, paragraph 3 of the order dated
13 July 2026 indicates that the Hon’ble Supreme Court has directed that
it is not obligatory for the Respondent to take work from the Petitioner.


3)          As of now, there appears to be no breach of the order passed by
this Court, as modified by the Hon’ble Apex Court.


4)          The Writ Petition is accordingly disposed of, reserving the liberty
for the Petitioner to move again, if necessity arises after disposal of
pending SLP before the Supreme Court.


5)          The Contempt Petition is disposed of.




                                                      [SANDEEP V. MARNE, J.]




                                     Page No.2 of 2
                                    17 August 2026

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