WORKMEN OF BALMADIES ESTATES vs MGMT., BALMADIES ESTATE .

The Supreme Court upheld the dismissal of two workmen for theft of gramoxine weedicide, affirming the findings of the enquiry officer and the High Court's ruling that the Labour Court's decision was perverse. The Court noted that the Labour Court failed to appreciate the direct evidence provided by witnesses MW1 and MW2, which supported the employer's case. The Court emphasized that the appreciation of evidence in disciplinary proceedings must be based on the principles of natural justice and the sufficiency of evidence as per Section 11(A) of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947.