CANARA BANKING CORPORATION LTD. vs U. VITTAL

The Supreme Court held that Section 33A of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 does not impose an absolute prohibition on the transfer of bank employees not belonging to subordinate staff. The Court clarified that while the Sastry Award restricts transfers of subordinate staff outside their language area without consent, it allows discretion for other employees. The Court upheld the bank's transfer order as bona fide and in the best interests of the bank, thereby reversing the Labour Court's decision that had favored the respondent's claim of mala fide transfer.