THE STATE OF MYSORE vs THE WORKERS OF GOLD MINES

The Supreme Court upheld the applicability of the Full Bench Formula for calculating available surplus in the context of bonus claims by employees in the gold mining industry, rejecting the employers' argument that the formula was inapplicable due to the industry's unique features. The Court emphasized that the covenant allowing a reserve fund did not impose an obligation on the lessees and could not prevent the Tribunal from investigating claims for available surplus. The judgment reinforced the principles of social and economic justice as enshrined in Articles 38 and 43 of the Constitution, affirming the Tribunal's authority to assess claims based on evidence presented.