In Brief
An employee of Eastern Coalfields Ltd was dismissed in 1982 for misconduct. An Industrial Tribunal found the dismissal excessive and awarded reinstatement with 50% back wages. The High Court's Division Bench held the Tribunal lacked power to reduce the punishment but allowed reinstatement. On appeal, the Supreme Court granted continuity of service from dismissal for all purposes except back wages, and awarded 50% back wages from the Tribunal's order date onwards, excluding any amounts already paid under statutory provisions, balancing employer and employee interests.
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