Authority: Supreme Court of India
Order Date: 05 August 2026
Case Overview
- Appeal No.: Civil Appeal No. 1310 of 2017 filed by N.K. Joshi (appellant) against Modern Bakeries (I) Ltd, now taken over by Hindustan Unilever Ltd (respondent).
- The dispute originates from the appellant’s alleged illegal termination in 1980.
- Labour Court award dated 19‑01‑2000 held termination illegal and granted a lump‑sum compensation of Rs 50,000 in lieu of reinstatement.
- The appellant appealed the award in W.P.(C) No. 780/2001; the Single Judge of the High Court of Delhi upheld the award on 31‑07‑2014 and added Rs 25,000 with 15% interest.
- The appellant filed LPA No. 565 of 2014 seeking reinstatement with full back wages; the Division Bench of the High Court, in an order dated 16‑07‑2025, refused to interfere and upheld the compensation award.
- A notice issued on 15‑02‑2016 limited the dispute to the quantum of compensation. The respondent indicated willingness to pay Rs 5,00,000.
- Counsel for the respondent (Mr. Sandeep Prabhakar, Adv.; Mr. P. S. Sudheer, AoR; Mr. Rishi Maheshwari, Adv.; Ms. Anne Mathew, Adv.; Mr. Bharat Sood, Adv.; Mr. Jashan Vir Singh, Adv.) appeared before the Court.
Final Outcome
- The Supreme Court disposed of the appeal, directing the respondent to pay a full and final compensation of Rs 7,50,000 to the appellant within two weeks from the date of the order.
- Additionally, the respondent must clear any amount due under the head of Provident Fund, together with statutory interest, within the same two‑week period.
- All pending applications, if any, are also disposed of.
Topics: Employment Law, Compensation Order