Mon Dec 01 19:51:22 UTC 2025: Summary:

An Indian Industrial Tribunal-cum-Labour Court upheld the termination of a Maruti worker involved in the 2012 Manesar plant violence, dismissing his appeal for reinstatement. The court emphasized the need for “strict discipline” in the workforce for India to compete economically. The worker argued his innocence, citing his absence from the FIR and investigation reports. The court countered that not every participant in mob violence could be individually named and that separate inquiries for each of the 546 terminated employees were impractical. Around 350 workers are still fighting for reinstatement, and this verdict is considered a setback for their cause.

News Article:

Maruti Worker Reinstatement Denied: Court Cites Need for “Strict Discipline” in Workforce

GURUGRAM, December 2, 2025 (The Hindu) – An Indian Industrial Tribunal-cum-Labour Court has denied the appeal of a Maruti worker seeking reinstatement following his termination after the 2012 violence at the company’s Manesar plant. The ruling, delivered last month but only recently made public, impacts one of the 546 workers dismissed in the aftermath of the incident.

Presiding Officer Kumud Gugnani stated in the order that reinstating the worker, Ram Niwas, would be “wrong or illegal,” arguing that “strict discipline” is crucial for India to compete in the global economy. The court refuted the worker’s claims that he was wrongly implicated, stating that it was impossible to individually investigate each of the 546 terminated employees.

Niwas’s counsel argued that his client’s name was absent from the initial police report and subsequent investigations. However, the court maintained that participation in mob violence does not necessarily require individual identification in the FIR.

The decision has been met with disappointment from the Maruti Suzuki Struggle Committee, representing approximately 350 workers still fighting for reinstatement and compensation. Khusiram, a former Maruti fitter also seeking reinstatement, described the verdict as a “setback,” noting the similarity in the cases being pursued. The 2012 violence at the Manesar plant resulted in the death of a human resources manager and injuries to 90 executives.

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