AJIT KUMAR BARAT vs SECRETARY, INDIAN TEA ASSOCIATION AND ORS.

The Supreme Court dismissed the writ petition filed under Article 32 challenging its earlier order dated 14.2.2000, which set aside the High Court's directive for the State Government to make a reference regarding the petitioner's status as a workman under the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947. The Court held that the petitioner failed to demonstrate how his Fundamental Rights under Article 21 were violated by the previous decision, and clarified that a decree passed without jurisdiction is a nullity but does not affect the maintainability of a writ petition under Article 32. The Court reaffirmed the validity of its earlier judgment and denied the relief sought by the petitioner.