BHUWALKA STEEL INDUS. LTD. vs BOMBAY IRON & STEEL LABOUR BD.

The Supreme Court addressed the interpretation of 'unprotected worker' under Section 2(11) and 'worker' under Section 2(12) of the Maharashtra Mathadi, Hamal and other Manual Workers (Regulation of Employment and Welfare) Act, 1969. The Court overruled the previous interpretation in Century Textiles & Industries Ltd. Vs. State of Maharashtra, clarifying that 'unprotected worker' encompasses all manual workers engaged in scheduled employment, not just casually engaged workers. The Court upheld the Full Bench's interpretation, affirming the broader scope intended by the legislature.