RANGE FOREST OFFICER, BELGAUM vs S.T. HADIMANI

The Supreme Court held that the Labour Tribunal erred in placing the burden of proof on the Management to justify the termination of the respondent's service without first establishing that the respondent had worked for 240 days in the year preceding his termination. The Court emphasized that the claimant must provide cogent evidence, beyond mere affidavits, to substantiate his claim of employment duration. Consequently, the Tribunal's award was set aside due to insufficient evidence from the workman regarding his employment duration, although the respondent was offered employment on compassionate grounds.