In Brief
A sugar mill challenged a Labour Court order directing payment of wages to a reinstated worker for the period between a reinstatement award (1997) and actual reinstatement (2005). The Supreme Court held that Section 33-C(2) of the Industrial Disputes Act covers only quantifying already-established benefits, not adjudicating disputed entitlements. Since the employer had rejected the wage claim under 'no work, no pay' and the High Court had referred the matter back to the employer for consideration, the Labour Court lacked jurisdiction to unilaterally award these wages. The Court set aside the Labour Court order but, in the interest of justice, treated the amount already withdrawn by the worker (Rs. 6 lakhs) as full satisfaction of all wages claimed, with accrued interest to be paid to the worker.
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