In Brief
ONGC employees sought compensation under the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 for alleged deficiencies in a company welfare scheme. The Supreme Court held that employees cannot be treated as consumers in relation to their employer where a welfare scheme is managed by a separate Trust. There is no privity of contract or consumer-service provider relationship between employees and ONGC for trust-managed schemes. The Court found ONGC is not liable for compensation under consumer law merely based on employment status. The appeal was partly allowed.
The lawyer headnote and full judgment text are available to registered users.