As per case facts, an industrial dispute arose over the retrenchment of 21 casual workers by the Food Corporation of India (FCI) without compliance with statutory provisions. A Tribunal directed ... their reinstatement and regularization with back wages. The FCI challenged this, but a Single Judge of the High Court upheld the award, noting FCI's voluntary implementation for over 18 years. Subsequently, a Division Bench modified the order, quashing the regularization but retaining reinstatement and back wages. Both the workmen (for regularization) and the management (against reinstatement/back wages) appealed to the Supreme Court. The question arose whether FCI, having voluntarily absorbed workers into regular service for two decades, could subsequently challenge the regularization aspect, especially after significant delay and benefit. Finally, the Supreme Court ruled that FCI could not change its stance, applying the doctrine of approbate and reprobate. It restored the Tribunal's original award, including regularization, emphasizing that FCI voluntarily implemented the award and allowed the situation to persist for a prolonged period, altering the workers' position.