In Brief
ONGC challenged High Court judgments ordering regularisation of contract workmen on the basis of an internal regularisation scheme. The Supreme Court found discriminatory treatment between similarly situated workmen: one dispensed before the scheme's effective date (entitled only to compensation) and another in service who completed the prescribed period (wrongly denied regularisation). Rather than finally deciding, the Court noted that the prior decision in PCLU requires reconsideration to align with earlier precedent on unfair labour practices, Article 14 equality, and the scope of Labour Courts' regularisation powers. The case was referred to the Chief Justice for constitution of an appropriate Bench for final hearing."
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