Summary: The Bombay High Court decided in favor of several watchmen, including Pandurang Rajaram Chaudhary, who had been trying to get their jobs made permanent. The court found that they had been working continuously for years and deserved the benefits of permanent employees.
The Forest Development Corporation in Nashik, Maharashtra, was in trouble with its watchmen. These employees had been working from 1977 to 1992, some for over 20 years, but were still considered temporary. They took their case to the Industrial Court, claiming that the Corporation was not treating them fairly by not making their jobs permanent.
The Industrial Court agreed with the watchmen. It found that the Corporation was not treating the workers fairly. The court decided that since these workers had been employed continuously, they should be given permanent status and the benefits that come with it.
"Pandurang Rajaram Chaudhary and his fellow watchmen were continuously working with the Forest Development Corporation without any break and certainly they had completed more than 240 days in each year."
The Forest Development Corporation didn't like this decision and appealed. However, the High Court, with Judges G. S. Kulkarni and Aarti Sathe, supported the Industrial Court's ruling. They pointed out that the Corporation was acting like an employer and the watchmen were clearly employees.
Continuous Employment: The court highlighted that the workers, including Pandurang Rajaram Chaudhary, had been employed for 240 days each year for many years.
Nature of Work: The work was permanent and not just a temporary plan, as argued by the Corporation.
Legal Obligations: The Corporation, being a government entity, had to follow the law and treat their workers fairly.
The High Court dismissed the appeals from the Corporation, reinforcing that the watchmen, including Pandurang Rajaram Chaudhary, should be made permanent and receive all due benefits by February 2026.
"Pandurang Rajaram Chaudhary and the other workmen shall be given all the benefits of the orders passed by the Industrial Tribunal."
The final decision confirmed that the watchmen would become permanent employees and receive all the benefits they deserved, marking a significant victory for fair treatment of workers.
