Range Forest Officer vs S.T. Hadimani

The Supreme Court held that the Labour Tribunal erred in placing the burden of proof on the Management regarding the respondent's employment duration under the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947. The Court emphasized that the claimant must provide cogent evidence, beyond mere affidavits, to substantiate claims of having worked for 240 days prior to termination. The absence of proof such as salary receipts or appointment records led to the conclusion that the Tribunal's award was unsustainable, resulting in the setting aside of the award while allowing the respondent employment on compassionate grounds.