Authority: High Court at Calcutta, Special Civil Jurisdiction
Order Date: 22.09.2026
Case Overview
- Petitioners: Workmen represented by Chanditala Dankuni Food Corporation of India and others; Respondent: Manish Verma (representing Food Corporation of India).
- The workmen (254 in number) were retrenched from FCI without notice or retrenchment compensation. An award dated 6 April 2006 directed reinstatement from 1 July 1993.
- FCI challenged the award via writ petition WPA 16535 of 2006. On 23 August 2023 the Coordinating Bench disposed of the writ in favour of the workmen, directing retrenchment compensation under Section 25F of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, for the period 1990‑1993.
- FCI submitted that it had complied with the 23 August 2023 order, paying compensation to 210 workmen who produced proper identification. The remaining 44 workmen lacked adequate ID documents.
- The petitioners alleged that FCI failed to pay compensation for an 18‑year period (1990‑2008) and filed a contempt petition (CPAN No. 1439 of 2024).
- The Court examined whether the workmen were entitled to compensation for 18 years or only for 1990‑1993, and whether FCI had complied with the 23 August 2023 order.
Final Outcome
- The Court held that the Tribunal’s finding that the workmen were not entitled to back wages from 1 July 1993 to 6 April 2006 was unchallenged; therefore continuous service for compensation calculation is limited to 1990‑1993.
- No wilful or deliberate violation of the 23 August 2023 order was found.
- The contempt petition (CPAN 1439 of 2024) is dismissed. No order as to costs.
- Interim order, if any, is vacated; pending applications, if any, are disposed of.
- All parties must act in accordance with the server copy of the order downloaded from the Court’s official website.
- Urgent photostat certified copies of the judgment may be supplied upon compliance with necessary formalities.
Topics: Labor Law, Retrenchment Compensation