Summary: On December 24, 2025, the Bombay High Court rejected several attempts by the Forest Development Corporation, Nashik, to overturn a decision that supported the rights of several workers to be recognized as permanent employees. The court found that the corporation had treated the workers unfairly by not making them permanent employees even though they had worked for more than 240 days each year.
This case involves several attempts by the manager of the Forest Development Corporation, Nashik, to challenge the rights of several workers. The workers, who were employed as watchmen from 1977 to 1992, claimed that the corporation treated them unfairly under a specific law meant to protect workers' rights. They argued that even though they worked continuously for more than 240 days each year, they were not given permanent employee status.
The Industrial Court at Nashik first heard the complaints and decided in favor of the workers on July 31, 2000. The court found that the corporation treated the workers unfairly by not making them permanent employees. This decision was confirmed by a Single Judge on June 13, 2001.
"The respondents were working with the appellant without any break in service since their respective dates of joining," stated the court.
The Forest Development Corporation, represented by Mr. Ashwinikumar R. Kapadnis, argued against these decisions, saying that the workers were temporary and should not be made permanent. They claimed that making the workers permanent would cause financial problems and that the corporation was not considered a business under the Industrial Disputes Act.
However, the workers' lawyer, Mr. Kiran Bapat, argued that the workers were wrongly denied permanent status even though they met all the requirements to become permanent employees.
Judges G. S. Kulkarni and Aarti Sathe agreed with the previous decisions, emphasizing the important and ongoing nature of the workers' roles. The court rejected the appeals, confirming that the corporation had indeed treated the workers unfairly.
"The work performed by the respondents was permanent and ongoing in nature," the judgment noted.
The decision requires the Forest Development Corporation to make the workers permanent employees and pay them back wages from April 1, 1998. This judgment strengthens the rights of workers to fair treatment and sets an example for similar cases in the future.
The court's decision underlines the importance of recognizing long-term, continuous employment and ensuring that workers receive the benefits they deserve.
"The respondents/workmen shall be given all the benefits of the orders passed by the Industrial Tribunal," concluded the court.
This ruling is a big win for workers' rights, making sure that workers are not denied their rightful status and benefits due to bureaucratic oversight or being wrongly classified as temporary.
