ASSOCIATED CEMENT CO. LTD. vs THE WORKMEN AND ANR.

The Supreme Court held that domestic enquiries conducted by officers who witnessed the alleged misconduct violate the principles of natural justice, as established under Section 10(1)(d) of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947. The Court emphasized that such enquiries must be fair, allowing the workman to cross-examine witnesses and provide explanations. It ruled that evidence from one enquiry cannot be used against another workman if they were not present to challenge that evidence, thereby reinforcing the necessity of procedural fairness in disciplinary actions.