VIJAY KUMAR . vs WHIRLPOOL OF INDIA LTD. . — C.A. No. 5787/2000

Case Summary: Vijay Kumar v. Whirlpool of India Ltd. (C.A. 5787/2000) Decision: The Supreme Court dismissed the appeal, upholding the High Court's judgment. The Court held that 18 former employees who opted for voluntary retirement in 1995 were not entitled to benefits under a subsequent October 1995 settlement between management and workers. The settlement explicitly covered only "permanent workmen on the rolls as on 30.6.1995," and the appellants could not establish they remained on the company's rolls on that date. Benefits under Section 33-C(2) of the Industrial Disputes Act require pre-existing rights, which these ex-employees lacked after accepting voluntary retirement. This case analysis is maintained by casestatus.in based on publicly available court records.