No reinstatement to contractual workers because of land transfer from failed amalgamation: Punjab and Haryana High Court

Punjab & Haryana HC in the case of Punjab Land Development & Reclamation Corporation Workers’ Union Ludhiana vs. Punjab Agro Industries Corporation Ltd & Ors. (LPA-2872-2024), recently  ruled that retrenched contractual workers cannot claim reinstatement solely due to land transfer resulting from a failed amalgamation. Referring to Section 2(oo) of the ID Act, the Court clarified that retrenchment does not include contract terminations consistent with contractual terms. Additionally, protection under Section 25-N of the ID Act applies only to employees with at least one year of continuous service, which was not satisfied in the present case.