WORKMEN OF M/S HINDUSTAN LEVER LTD. & ORS. vs MANAGEMENT OF M/S HINDUSIAN LEVER LTD.

The Supreme Court held that the jurisdiction of the Industrial Tribunal is determined by the order of reference, and the employer cannot unilaterally repudiate a concluded agreement with the union regarding the status of employees as 'workmen' under the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947. The Court found that the employer was estopped from contesting the status of the two salesmen due to a valid agreement, and the Tribunal's previous award did not operate as res judicata. The Court upheld the union's contention that the termination of services was illegal and invalid, reinforcing the principle of estoppel in industrial disputes.