In Brief
A workman was terminated in 1997 in violation of Section 25F of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947. The Labour Court in 2012 ordered his reinstatement without back wages, which the employer implemented. The High Court later modified this to award compensation of Rs. 2 lakh instead. The Supreme Court held that while reinstatement is not mandatory for Section 25F breaches and compensation may be an alternative remedy, where a workman has already been reinstated and continuously employed for years, he should not be disturbed. The appeal was allowed and the Labour Court's reinstatement order was restored.
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