BIRA KISHORE NAIK vs COAL INDIA LTD. & ORS.

The Supreme Court addressed the applicability of Section 14 of the Coal Mines (Nationalisation) Act, 1973, determining that employees of a coal mine that was not listed in the Schedule due to an error are still entitled to wages if the mine existed on the appointed day as defined in Section 2(b) of the Coal Mines (Taking Over of Management) Act, 1973. The Court held that the Central Government had a duty to issue a notification regarding the mine's existence once it acquired knowledge of it, thereby affirming the rights of the petitioner and the workmen to seek relief under Article 32 of the Constitution. The Court directed the Union of India to take necessary actions regarding the management of the colliery and the payment of wages to the workmen.