Vst Industries Ltd vs Vst Industries Workers Union & Anr

The Supreme Court held that under Section 46 of the Factories Act, 1948, a company is obligated to provide and maintain a canteen for its employees, which constitutes a public duty. The Court affirmed that a writ of mandamus can be issued against a private company when it is discharging a public duty, as established in T. Gattaiah vs. Commissioner of Labour. The Court upheld the lower court's decision that employees working in the canteen, despite being contracted, are deemed employees of the company, thus granting the relief sought by the respondent-union.