In Brief
The Court dismissed an appeal by Birla Institute of Technology challenging an employee's claim for gratuity under the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972. The Institute argued that a prior Supreme Court decision (Ahmedabad Private Teachers Association) exempted private educational institutions from gratuity obligations. The Court held that amendments to the Act had rendered that precedent no longer binding. The amended statute now extends gratuity rights to employees of private institutions, and the respondent was entitled to the claimed amount. The appeal was dismissed with costs awarded to the respondent."
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