Vikram Bhalchandra Ghongade vs The Headmistress Girls High School And ...

The Supreme Court examined whether a legal heir of a deceased teacher in an aided school is eligible for gratuity under the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972, especially when the school had settled provident fund dues in the name of the nominee. The Court referred to precedents affirming that teachers are eligible for gratuity and emphasized the importance of the nominee and legal heirship in such claims. The Court upheld the eligibility of the petitioner for gratuity, overruling the High Court's decision, and clarified that settled provident fund dues do not preclude gratuity claims. The judgment reinforces the rights of legal heirs and nominees under the Act.