Sr.Suptd.Telegraph(Traffic)Bhopal vs Santosh Kumar Seal And Ors

The Supreme Court upheld the Tribunal's award directing the reinstatement of workmen and payment of back wages, finding that their termination violated Section 25F of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947. The Court rejected the appellant's argument that the workmen abandoned their jobs, emphasizing that the plea regarding the establishment not being an 'industry' was not raised before the Tribunal or the High Court. The Court affirmed the Tribunal's findings and dismissed the appeal, thereby reinforcing the legal principle that mandatory provisions for retrenchment must be followed.