In Brief
A temporary caretaker employed by the Life Insurance Corporation of India in 1994 was terminated in 2001. An Industrial Tribunal set aside the termination and ordered reinstatement without back wages; the High Court affirmed this. The Supreme Court allowed the appeal in part, modifying the reinstatement order to award Rs. 1 lakh as compensation in full and final satisfaction. The Court considered the temporary nature of the appointment, regular complaints against the employee, loss of employer confidence, and the 19 years elapsed since termination, finding that compensation better served the interests of justice than reinstatement.
The lawyer headnote and full judgment text are available to registered users.