REGIONAL PROVIDENT FUND COMM.MANGALORE vs M/S. CENTRAL AERCANUT & COCA M&P COOP.

The Supreme Court upheld the judgments of the Karnataka High Court, affirming that the 45 trainees selected by the respondent were not 'employees' under Section 2(f) of the Employees Provident Fund & Misc. Provisions Act, 1952. The Court clarified that the definition of 'employee' excludes apprentices engaged under the Apprentices Act, 1961, and the trainees did not meet the criteria for employment as they were not entitled to a right of appointment post-training. Consequently, the appeal was dismissed, confirming the lower courts' decisions.