Termination of Employment in Violation of Labour Laws: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court has ruled that employees who have served for several years, some even for over a decade, cannot be arbitrarily dismissed, especially if they have been fulfilling municipal duties continuously. The court stated that such workers must be legally and ethically protected unless formal contractual agreements state otherwise.

Key Court Observations
•    The employer violated labour law principles by terminating workers unfairly.
•    Employees who continuously met municipal needs over the years cannot be abruptly removed without proper legal process.
•    The Supreme Court emphasized that such dismissals amount to labour law violations.
Municipal Corporation Ordered to Reinstate Workers

The Ghaziabad Municipal Corporation has been directed to:
•    Reinstate the petitioners within four weeks.
•    Ensure their entire service tenure is counted toward their employment benefits.
•    Provide all applicable employment benefits and compensation.
Additionally, the court ordered that the process of regularizing these employees be transparent and fair, with final regularization to be completed within six months.

Legal Background
This ruling follows a previous Supreme Court judgment from March 1, 2019, which was challenged in a fresh appeal by affected workers. The petitioners sought permanent employment after years of continued service.
This decision is seen as a major victory for workers' rights, reinforcing the importance of fair employment practices and adherence to labour laws.