Changing Judicial Pronouncements on Impugned Discharge & Dismissal Under Industrial Disputes Act, 1947

From a review of more than 200 court rulings delivered by the Supreme Court and different High Courts in India over six decades since 1950, the author establishes a relationship between India’s changing economic and related labor policies and the judicial pronouncements by the courts over a fairly long time. Effect of the changing economic policies on judicial pronouncements on impugned discharge/dismissal made under the Industrial Disputes Act of 1947 was examined and it was found that the statute did not change to the extent as did its interpretations by the courts. It is disputable whether the change in judicial interpretation could be completely attributed to the transforming economic policies.