Authority: Supreme Court of India

Order Date: 13-07-2026

Case Overview

  • Petition: Uttara Foods and Feeds Private Limited filed Special Leave to Appeal (C) No. 22695/2026 against the High Court of Bombay’s judgment dated 26‑03‑2026 in WP No. 5244/2022, which declared the respondent’s service discontinuation effective 11‑11‑2015 illegal.
  • Respondent: Ashok Laxman Ruptakke, former employee.
  • Petitioner's claim: No termination of service; only a transfer, as reflected in the written statement filed before the Labour Court.
  • High Court’s direction: Declared the discontinuation of service illegal and ordered back‑wages.
  • Petitioner's argument: The High Court’s direction lacks basis because there was no termination.

Order

1. The Court directed that a notice be issued to the respondent, returnable within six weeks.

2. The petitioner is ordered to reinstate the respondent, though the petitioner is not obliged to assign work to him.

3. The earlier direction to pay back wages to the respondent is stayed pending further proceedings.

Final Outcome

  • The respondent will be reinstated without a mandatory work assignment; the back‑wage payment order is temporarily stayed; further notice to be filed within six weeks.

Topics: Court Proceedings, Employment Law