Authority: Supreme Court of India

Order Date: 17 September 2026

Case Overview

  • Parties: Appellant – The Principal Secretary, Commerce and Industries Department & Ors (State of Karnataka); Respondent – The Workmen of Mysore Paper Mills Ltd & Anr.
  • Civil Appeal No.: (Special Leave Petition (Civil) No. 8375/2024) arising from the impugned judgment dated 03‑01‑2024 of the High Court of Karnataka.
  • Background: The workmen, employed as forest watchers in Mysore Paper Mills (a Karnataka Government undertaking), were the subject of an industrial dispute. The Government of Karnataka referred the dispute to the Industrial Tribunal, Bangalore under Section 10(1)(d) of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 on 22‑09‑2005 (A.I.D. No. 16 of 2005). The Tribunal’s award dated 25‑07‑2008 held that the workmen were entitled only to wages and benefits under the Industrial Disputes Act, not regularisation as Forest Plantation Watchers.
  • High Court Proceedings: The workmen challenged the award in W.P. Nos. 14012/2008 and 13284/2008; the management filed W.P. 36195/2009. On 14‑12‑2022, a Single Judge set aside the Tribunal award and directed the State to pay the workmen wages at the minimum pay‑scale of Forest Watchers (as per the Vidheyaka notification of 20‑02‑2018) from that date onward, within three months, without expressing any view on regularisation.
  • State Appeal: Karnataka appealed; the Division Bench of the High Court dismissed the appeal on 03‑01‑2024, reaffirming the wage direction and granting a three‑month compliance period.
  • Supreme Court Intervention: A Special Leave Petition was filed; the Supreme Court stayed the operation of the Division Bench order on 15‑04‑2024. During the present hearing, the Court examined the Karnataka Daily Wage Employees Welfare Act, 2012, which secures minimum security of tenure and wages for daily‑wage employees with over ten years of service, mandating continuation of employment till age 60 and payment of the minimum of the relevant time‑scale.
  • Notification Reference: The notification dated 20‑02‑2018 (issued by the Ministry of Commerce and Industries, Government of Karnataka) lists the eligible workmen of Mysore Paper Mills who have served for at least ten years and are still employed, aligning with the Vidheyaka list.

Final Outcome

  • The Supreme Court dismissed the civil appeal, upholding the High Court’s wage direction.
  • Karnataka is required to pay the workmen the minimum Forest Watcher pay‑scale from 20‑02‑2018, within three months of receipt of the order.
  • No opinion was expressed regarding the regularisation or absorption of the workmen.
  • All pending applications, if any, are disposed of.

Topics: Industrial Dispute, Wage Order, Labor Law