The Court addressed a long-standing legal battle between the Maharashtra Forest Department and its daily-wage workers. The petitioners, many of whom have worked for over three decades and have since retired or passed away, sought regularization and financial benefits under the principle of "Equal Wages for Equal Work." The Court ruled in favor of the petitioners, awarding a lump sum compensation of ₹10,00,000 to each petitioner or their legal heirs, and ₹7,50,000 to one petitioner, Nana Pandit Pawar, who has served for two decades. The Court emphasized the futility of further litigation given the prolonged nature of the case and the advanced age of many petitioners.

Introduction:

The Court was called to resolve a legal dispute involving the Maharashtra Forest Department and several daily-wage workers who had filed complaints under the Maharashtra Recognition of Trade Unions and Prevention of Unfair Labour Practices Act, 1971. The workers had been in litigation for over 27 years, seeking regularization of their employment and the benefits that come with it.

Court's Review:

The Court reviewed the judgments of the Industrial Court and a Single Judge Bench, both of which had ruled in favor of the workers, finding that they had been unjustly denied regularization and benefits despite having served for over three decades.

Deputy Conservator of Forest’s Controversial Report:

The controversy escalated when the Deputy Conservator of Forest (DCF), Jalgaon, submitted a report contradicting the Court's findings. The report claimed that the workers did not meet the criteria for regularization, which the Court found to be an overreach and an attempt to undermine previous judgments.

Final Judgment and Compensation:

Given the prolonged litigation and the age of the petitioners, the Court decided against remanding the case for further review. Instead, it ordered the Forest Department to pay a lump sum compensation of ₹10,00,000 to each petitioner (or their legal heirs) and ₹7,50,000 to one petitioner who served for two decades.

Conclusion:

The Court's decision brings a close to a nearly three-decade-long legal battle, offering financial relief to the workers or their surviving families. The judgment also underscores the need for prompt and fair treatment of labor disputes to avoid prolonged litigation.