ANANDA BAZAR PATRIKA (P) LTD. vs ITS WORKMEN

The Supreme Court held that under Section 10(1)(D) of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, the domestic enquiry conducted against the respondent was fair and in accordance with the principles of natural justice, despite the refusal to allow the examination of the Editor as a witness. The Court ruled that the enquiry officer's discretion to exclude irrelevant witnesses or questions does not constitute mala fides or a violation of natural justice. Consequently, the Labour Court lacked jurisdiction to review the merits of the domestic enquiry's findings, leading to the dismissal of the appeal by the Ananda Bazar Patrika.