KALINDI & OTHERS vs TATA LOCOMOTIVE & ENGINEERING CO., LTD.

The Supreme Court ruled that under the Industrial Disputes Act, a workman does not have an inherent right to be represented by a union representative during an inquiry into misconduct, although the employer may permit such representation at their discretion. The Court emphasized that inquiries typically involve straightforward factual determinations, which the workman is best positioned to address personally. The appeal by the dismissed workmen was dismissed, affirming the validity of the inquiry conducted by the management without union representation.