Constitution of India, 1950 – Article 136 – Special Leave Petition – Labour Rights – Supreme Court Declined Interference – Confirmed Industrial Court’s Order – Para 20
Maharashtra Recognition of Trade Unions and Prevention of Unfair Labour Practices Act, 1971 – Sections 26, 28, 30 – Unfair Labour Practice – Pay Revision without Notice – Industrial Court Set Aside 2015 Revision – Upheld by High Court and Supreme Court – Para 19, 20
Labour Law – Pay Fixation – Principle of Equal Pay for Equal Work – 1956 Settlement and 1978 Resolution Distinguished – Supreme Court Reiterated Premlal Judgment – Para 10, 18
Labour Law – Absorption – Regularization – Premlal Judgment Applied – 1956 Settlement and 1985 Settlement Operated Separately – 2015 Revision Invalid – Para 17, 18
Industrial Dispute – Doctrine of Stare Decisis – 2008 Industrial Court Order Final – 2010 Pay Fixation Followed Premlal – Supreme Court Held 2015 Revision Contrary to Law – Para 15, 16
a. Supreme Court dismissed MSRTC’s appeals, holding 2015 revision as unfair labour practice. b. Affirmed Industrial Court and High Court’s rulings. c. Clarified Premlal Judgment did not justify 2015 revision. d. Barred MSRTC from recovering wages from workmen.
Held:
Supreme Court dismissed MSRTC’s appeals – Affirmed 2010 pay fixation – Declared 2015 revision illegal – No recovery from workmen allowed.
Subjects:
Labour Law – Pay Fixation – 1956 Settlement – 1978 Resolution – 1985 Settlement – Premlal Judgment – Industrial Court – Unfair Labour Practice – Absorption – Regularization – Equal Pay – Stare Decisis – Supreme Court – Special Leave Petition
Facts:
a. Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) revised pay scales in 2015, cancelling 2010 pay fixation.
b. Industrial Court ruled 2015 revision as unfair labour practice and reinstated 2010 fixation.
c. High Court refused to interfere, affirming Industrial Court’s order.
d. MSRTC appealed to the Supreme Court, arguing that 2015 revision was based on Premlal Judgment.
Issues:
a. Whether 2015 pay revision violated workers' rights under the 1956 and 1985 settlements.
b. Whether the revision was justified under Premlal Judgment.
c. Whether Supreme Court should interfere with Industrial Court and High Court’s findings.
Submissions/Arguments:
a. MSRTC argued 2015 revision was necessary to comply with Supreme Court’s Premlal Judgment.
b. Workmen contended 2010 fixation was based on Industrial Court's 2008 order, which MSRTC never challenged.
c. Workmen emphasized that 2015 revision was without notice and contradicted previous legal findings.
Precidents:
Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation v. Premlal, (2007) 9 SCC 141
Quinn v. Leathem, [1901] AC 495
Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation v. Sh. Arjun Gangaram Wajgikar & Ors., W.P. No. 3466/2011
Ratio:
a. 1956 Settlement and 1985 Settlement operated separately – Pay fixation should not be linked with absorption.
b. Industrial Court’s 2008 order granting pay scale attained finality – 2010 fixation legally valid.
c. MSRTC could not unilaterally revise pay in 2015 without notice – Violated principles of fairness.
Case Title: MAHARASHTRA STATE ROAD TRANSPORT CORPORATION VERSUS SUBHASH S/O LAXMANRAO BRAMHE
Citation: 2025 LawText (SC) (2) 273
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Date of Decision: 2025-02-27
