Indravadan N. Adhvaryu Pipala Fali Modhvada v. Laxminarayan Dev Trust - Industrial Disputes Act

Industrial Disputes Act - Section 2(j) - The appellant, an accountant employed by a temple trust since 1977, was orally terminated in 1989/1990 and his challenge before the Labour Court failed on the ground that the trust, being a temple and charitable in nature, was not an “industry” under section 2(j) of the Industrial Disputes Act - High Court affirmed this - In appeal, Supreme Court held: We are not inclined to entertain the appeal as the reasons assigned by the Labour Court is to the effect that the respondent-Trust is a temple and as such, it would not fall within the four corners of the expression “industry”. However, the oral termination in the instant case at the first instance being without holding any inquiry and thereafter, transferring the appellant to a far-off place not being warranted and as a result of the same, the disciplinary proceedings having been initiated, we are of the considered view that the entire issue can be laid to rest by directing the respondent-Trust to pay a lump-sum compensation of Rs.12,00,000/- (Rupees Twelve Lakhs) since the appellant had worked for twelve years in the said Trust continuously, uninterruptedly and without any blemish. (Para 4-5)