ASPINWALL & CO., KULSHEKAR, MANGALORE vs LALITHA PADUGADY & ORS. ETC.

The Supreme Court addressed the computation of gratuity for workmen employed in a seasonal establishment under the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972. The Court held that the workmen were entitled to gratuity calculated at the rate of 7 days' wages for each of the two seasons in a calendar year, as the establishment's operations were split into two distinct seasons despite being continuous in nature. The Court affirmed the decisions of the Controlling Authority and the High Court, thereby upholding the claims of the workmen under Section 4 of the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972.