Mukesh K. Tripathi vs Sr. Divn. Manager, L.I.C. & Ors

The Supreme Court held that the termination of the Respondent's services as an Apprentice Development Officer by the Life Insurance Corporation of India was not in violation of Section 25F of the Industrial Disputes Act, as he was not considered a 'workman' under Section 2(s) due to the nature of his apprenticeship. The Court distinguished the applicability of the precedent set in S.K. Verma v. Mahesh Chandra, stating it was rendered per incuriam by a later Constitution Bench decision in H.R. Adyanthaya v. Sandoz (India) Ltd. The Court upheld the High Court's decision to set aside the Tribunal's award, affirming the legality of the termination.