HINDALCO INDUSTRIES LTD. vs ASSOCIATION OF ENGG.WORKERS — C.A. No. 6410/2000

Case Summary: Hindalco Industries Ltd. v. Association of Engineering Workers Court Decision: The Supreme Court dismissed Hindalco's appeal and upheld the Industrial Court's finding that the company committed unfair labour practices under the Maharashtra Recognition of Trade Unions and Prevention of Unfair Labour Practices Act, 1971. The court declared that 27 canteen workers were de facto employees of Hindalco despite being nominally employed through contractors, and directed the company to absorb them as permanent employees with full wages and benefits within three months. Key Reasoning: Although the canteen contract showed multiple contractors over decades, the court found that ultimate control, supervision, and financial responsibility rested with Hindalco—which provided premises, utilities, equipment, uniforms, and reimbursed all wages. The continuous employment of workers despite contractor changes, combined with the statutory obligation to maintain the canteen, established a genuine employer-employee relationship with the company, making the contractor arrangement merely a façade. This case analysis is maintained by casestatus.in based on publicly available court records.