In Brief
Bharti Airtel appointed the respondent as Regional Business Head in a senior managerial position with an annual package of Rs. 22 lakhs, supervising four regional account managers. After tendering his resignation citing unfair performance ratings, he later claimed it was forced and sought protection under the Industrial Disputes Act. The Labour Court held he was not a 'workman' under the Act. The High Court partly allowed his petition based on his lack of disciplinary powers. The Supreme Court reversed the High Court, holding that the respondent's supervisory role, high salary, managerial designation, and authority over other managers clearly placed him outside the statutory definition of 'workman', and his resignation was voluntary, not coerced.
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