Employee's Status Determined by Nature of Duties, Not Designation : Calcutta High Court

The Calcutta High Court dismissed a writ petition challenging the tribunal's ruling that an accountant, Mr. Chatterjee, qualified as a 'workman' under the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947.

The Court noted that the main factor under Section 2(s) of the Industrial Disputes Act, which determines workman status, is not an employee's designation but the nature of his duties.

The tribunal ruled that Chatterjee's tasks were clerical and that he did not exercise managerial or supervisory powers.

The court upheld the tribunal’s classification of him as a 'workman' and further directed the tribunal to adjudicate the dispute.