In Brief
This case concerns contract workers of ONGC who claimed to be, in substance, the company's direct employees entitled to wage parity with regular staff. Six unions submitted wage revision demands; ONGC contended it was bound by a separate 2016 settlement covering contractors' workers, signed by contractors and a majority of unions. The Industrial Tribunal and High Court held the 2016 settlement did not bind the minority unions because it was between contractors alone and addressed a different claim. The Supreme Court affirmed: a settlement by contractors cannot bind minority workers claiming status as ONGC employees; the question of true employment status is a mixed fact-law issue for the tribunal; once decided by the tribunal and upheld by the high court, it cannot be revisited. The industrial court's remedial directions were reasonable and not subject to judicial interference."
The lawyer headnote and full judgment text are available to registered users.