Violent Strike Justifies Immediate Termination Without Enquiry: Bombay HC

Bombay High Court: A Single Judge Bench of Justice Sandeep V. Marne upheld Advani Oerlikon Ltd.'s decision to terminate workers who participated in illegal strikes and violent protests without conducting a prior enquiry. The Court ruled that where employee misconduct clearly jeopardizes workplace safety, as evidenced by acts of obstruction, intimidation, and assault, employers can...

Ad Hoc Service Counts For Seniority When Properly Regularized; Gauhati HC

Gauhati High Court: A Division Bench of Justice Kalyan Rai Surana and Justice Mridul Kumar Kalita dismissed a writ appeal challenging the seniority claim of a school principal appointed initially on an ad hoc basis. The Court ruled that when ad hoc appointments are regularized following due selection processes, seniority must be counted from the initial appointment date. The Court...

Failure To Consider Counsel's Medical Condition And Passing Ex-Parte Order Violates Natural Justice Warrants Setting Aside Appellate Authority's Order: Kerala HC

Kerala High Court: A Single Judge Bench of Justice N. Nagaresh set aside the Appellate Authority's ex-parte order in a gratuity dispute between HDFC Bank and its former Vice President. The court found that the Authority's failure to grant reasonable adjournments despite valid medical certificates violated principles of natural justice. The case concerned whether “personal pay”...

Dual Prosecution Under IPC And EPF Act For PF Defaults Valid; Serves Distinct Objectives: Kerala HC

Kerala High Court: A Single Judge Bench of Justice K. Babu upheld the trial court's refusal to discharge S. Mohammed Nowfal, proprietor of Tasty Nuts Factory. The Court held that prosecution under Section 406 IPC for criminal breach of trust involving PF defaults does not require prior sanction under Section 14-AC of the EPF Act. The Court emphasized that the 1973 addition of Explanation...

Allahabad High Court Upholds Reinstatement As Standard Remedy, But Percentage Of Back Wages To Be Subject To Facts

The Allahabad High Court Bench comprising of Justice Chandra Kumar Rai heard a petition revolving around the dismissal of a bus conductor by the Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (“UPRTC”). Here, the fairness of the disciplinary proceedings which led to the respondent's dismissal for allegedly allowing passengers to travel...

Permanency Of Post Not To Be Granted Merely On The Completion Of Certain Days Of Service; But To Be Considered If Scheme Present For The Same:Bombay High Court

The Bombay High Court Bench of Justice Sandeep V Marne considered a petition against an order passed by the Industrial Court allowing Respondents grant of permanency as well as other benefits. The Court ordered that simply completion of 240 days of service is not enough to mandate permanent post, however, in case creation of permanency was in consideration, via scheme provision or...

Disabilities Can Be Attributed To Service In Army Due To Stressful Work Conditions, Delhi High Court Grants Disability Pension

A Division Bench of the Delhi High Court comprising Justices Navin Chawla and Shalinder Kaur attributed the disabilities of the Respondent to his Service considering that an Army Personnel undergoes rigorous work stress and strain. It upheld the order of the Armed Forced Tribunal stating that the Army personnel worked in a stressful and hostile environment and thus, presumably,...

Bombay HC Sets Guidelines For Reviewing Proportionality Of Industrial Disciplinary Action; Bars Use Of New Evidence From Assessing Proportionality Of Punishment

Bombay High Court: A Single Judge Bench of Justice Anil L. Pansare remanded the case of a dismissed worker back to the Labour Court, directing a fresh assessment of punishment proportionality based solely on existing evidence. The court ruled that while Mahindra and Mahindra could potentially justify harsher punishment for the alleged protest leader, the stark disparity between...

Dismissal For Theft Justified When Position Of Trust Is Violated, Reinstatement Not Automatic Remedy And Value Of Stolen Property Irrelevant: Bombay HC

Bombay High Court: A Single Judge Bench of Justice Sandeep V. Marne set aside the Labour Court's and Industrial Court's orders reinstating a security associate dismissed from JW Marriott for theft. The Court held that theft of hotel property by a security employee constitutes serious misconduct regardless of the value of stolen items, given their position of trust. The Court found...

Administrative Error In Pay Fixation Cannot Lead To Post-Retirement Recovery With Interest: MP HC

Madhya Pradesh High Court: A Single Judge Bench of Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari quashed a recovery order seeking excess payments with interest from a retired Subedar. The Court held that recovery of excess payments from retired government employees, particularly when there is no misrepresentation or fraud, is impermissible after four years of retirement under Rule 9(4) of M.P....

Financial Constraints Cannot Override Constitutional Right To Equal Pension Benefits: Kerala HC

Kerala High Court: A Single Judge Bench of Justice Harisankar V. Menon ruled that pre-2006 Assam Rifles retirees are entitled to revised pension benefits on par with post-2006 retirees. The court rejected the Union of India's financial constraints argument, holding that monetary considerations cannot justify violation of fundamental rights. Following Supreme Court precedents, the court...

Non-Joining Duty Vacancies Must Follow Original Roster System, Cannot Be Diverted To By-Transfer Category: Kerala HC

Kerala High Court: A Division Bench of Justices A. Muhamed Mustaque and P.M. Manoj set aside the Kerala Administrative Tribunal's orders directing Non-Joining Duty (NJD) vacancies in Non-Vocational Teacher (English) posts to be filled from the by-transfer category. The Court held that NJD vacancies arising after the expiration of the direct recruitment list must be renotified and...