In Brief
A management appealed against a High Court order that had restricted a Labour Court from hearing evidence on whether the management employed more than 100 workmen—a fact critical to determining whether the dispute should have gone to an Industrial Tribunal instead of the Labour Court. The Supreme Court held that jurisdictional issues must be properly examined and remitted the matter to the Labour Court to allow the management to lead evidence through official certificates (from ESI, LIC, EPFO) proving the workforce size, while ensuring workers could cross-examine witnesses and present counter-evidence. The Labour Court was directed to decide within six months.
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