M/S Haryana State F.C.C.W. Store Ltd. & ... vs Ram Niwas & Anr

The Supreme Court examined whether the termination of service of employees engaged for a specific purpose—guarding grain stocks in an open area—constituted 'retrenchment' under Section 2(oo) of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947. The central legal issue was whether such termination falls within the exception provided under Section 2(oo)(bb) of the Act. The court analyzed the nature of the employment and the specific conditions of the engagement to determine if the termination was a result of the completion of a specific project or contract.