In Brief
An employer sought permission to amend its Certified Standing Orders by adding "break in service" as a new ground for punishment. The Labour Court, High Court, and Division Bench all rejected this application, finding that it would likely be misused to deprive employees of gratuity rights even for minor absences, conflicting with the Payment of Gratuity Act's protective purpose. The Supreme Court upheld their decision, holding that existing punishment grounds are sufficient and the proposed amendment would be arbitrary and contrary to employee welfare legislation.
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