Supreme Court Judgements
Judgements of the Supreme Court of India on labour and employment law. These bind every court and tribunal in the country, so they are the first place to look when a compliance position is contested.
3 judgements
Supreme Court Orders ₹1 Lakh for Affected Daily-Wage Workers and Interest on Delayed EPF and Wage Dues
Delayed payment of EPF dues attracts statutory interest under Section 7-Q of the EPF Act, 1952, from the due date until actual payment. This liability arises by operation of law, does not depend on a contractual agreement, and is not extinguished merely by subsequently paying the principal amount
Supreme Court Refers to Larger Bench the Question Whether EPF Damages for Delayed PF Deposits Are Mandatory
The appeals arose from proceedings concerning the liability of successful resolution applicants to pay provident fund dues, including interest under Section 7Q and damages or penalty under Section 14B of the EPF & MP Act. The Supreme Court considered the effect of the EPF statutory first charge, the treatment of provident fund dues under insolvency proceedings, and the earlier decision in Horticulture Experiment Station Gonikoppal v. Regional Provident Fund Organisation, which held that damages under Section 14B were automatic upon delayed payment.
Hamsaanandini Nanduri v. Union of India & Ors.
The Supreme Court has held that denying maternity benefits to a woman merely because she adopts a child aged three months or above is unconstitutional. Striking down the age restriction under Section 60(4) of the Code on Social Security, 2020, the Court ruled that eligible adoptive mothers are entitled to 12 weeks of maternity benefit from the date the child is handed over, regardless of the child's age at adoption. The Court found the earlier restriction discriminatory under Article 14 and inconsistent with the right to dignity and reproductive autonomy under Article 21 of the Constitution. The judgment has significant implications for employers, HR departments and payroll professionals administering maternity benefits.