M/S Indian Drugs & Pharmaceuticals Ltd vs Devki Devi And Ors

The Supreme Court upheld the decision of the Uttaranchal High Court, affirming that the respondents were entitled to reinstatement and compensation under Section 6-N of the U.P. Industrial Disputes Act, 1947. The Court established that the cessation of work constituted retrenchment, violating the statutory provisions. The judgment clarified that the respondents, initially engaged as contractors, were deemed workmen due to the nature of their employment and the settlement reached with the union, thus entitling them to protections under the Act.