THE WORKMEN OF THE FOOD CORPN.OF INDIA vs M/S. FOOD CORPN. OF INDIA

The Supreme Court held that the reintroduction of the contractor system by the Food Corporation of India without prior notice to the workmen's union, as mandated by Section 9A of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, constituted an illegal change in employment status. The Court emphasized that the workmen had transitioned to direct employment with the Corporation after the contractor was removed, and thus their discontinuation of service was unlawful. The appeal by the union was allowed, reversing the tribunal's decision that had upheld the Corporation's actions.