Supreme Court rules ONGC not liable for contractual workers' gratuity

The case involves Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd. (ONGC) appealing against a Bombay High Court order that held ONGC liable to pay gratuity to contractual workers through contractors, arguing no employer-employee relationship existed.

Petitioner: M/S OIL AND NATURAL GAS CORPORATION LTD; Respondents: Various workers and contractors including Suryakand D. Lad, Subramaniam S. Arjun, Ramanathan A. Yogishwaran, and Mohd. Hanif Ismail Hakam; Bench: Justices Ahsanuddin Amanullah and Manmohan

• The appeal is allowed.
• The High Court's order is set aside.
• The Appellate Authority's order stands revived.
• The Controlling Authority was not competent to decide liability for gratuity payment.
• The principal employer (ONGC) is not liable to pay gratuity to contractual workmen.
• The Controlling Authority cannot decide who must pay gratuity.
• The amount of gratuity claimed has already been paid by ONGC, so no recovery shall be made.

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