Summary
FCI challenged awards directing regularisation of 955 workers at its Chennai establishment. The Supreme Court upheld concurrent findings based on direct wage payments, perennial work, performance as permanent workers and expiry of the labour contract without renewal, alongside FCI’s failure to produce rebuttal evidence despite opportunity.
Issues
- Whether the concurrent findings supporting regularisation of the 955 workers warranted interference.
Held
- The Tribunal’s findings were supported by the Union’s evidence: the labour contract ended without renewal, FCI paid wages directly, the work was perennial, and the workers performed as permanent workers. Those findings were relevant to the reference and disclosed no perversity or illegality. (¶¶ 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22)
- FCI had opportunities to establish the actual employment arrangements but produced no evidence in rebuttal. The Tribunal was justified in drawing an adverse inference, and the supported concurrent findings supplied no basis for appellate interference. (¶¶ 19, 20, 21)
- The decision rested on the facts and evidence of these proceedings. The Court did not rely on the separate West Bengal matter brought to its notice, which had not been before the High Court. (¶¶ 23, 24)
Result
FCI’s appeals dismissed; the awards directing regularisation of the 955 workers, as affirmed by the High Court, stood upheld.