Supreme Court Deliberates on 'Industry' Definition Under Industrial Disputes Act

The Supreme Court is reviewing the definition of 'industry' under the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947. A nine-judge bench is assessing whether past legal interpretations align with current contexts, especially concerning government-led social welfare activities. The outcome may impact existing interpretations of industrial activities and legal frameworks under recent amendments.

The Supreme Court has commenced hearings on the definition of the term 'industry' under the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947. A nine-judge bench, led by Chief Justice Surya Kant, is considering the legal interpretations shaped over decades, particularly focusing on the criteria established in the landmark Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board case of 1978.

The proceedings aim to address whether government-led social welfare initiatives could qualify as industrial activities under existing law, in light of recent amendments like the Industrial Disputes (Amendment) Act, 1982 and the Industrial Relations Code, 2020. Attorney General R Venkataramani represents the government's position in these deliberations.

Previously, the issue was escalated from a three-judge bench to the current composition by a five-judge bench in 2005, acknowledging contradictions in past judgments from 1996 and 2001. The anticipated ruling seeks to harmonize past verdicts with modern interpretations for clarity in labor law.

(With inputs from agencies.)