Overview
Supreme Court ने AITUC Tamil Nadu द्वारा दायर याचिका को सुनने के लिए सहमति व्यक्त की है। यह मामला Industrial Relations Code (IRC) 2020 में ‘industry’ की परिभाषा को चुनौती देता है। याचिका का तर्क है कि परिभाषा अस्पष्ट है और कोड के व्यापक अपवाद कई कामगारों को असुरक्षित छोड़ देते हैं।
Key Developments
- On 28 October 2026, a bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant agreed to schedule the petition for early hearing.
- The petition points to the exceptions listed in Section 2(p) of the IRC, which exclude charitable, philanthropic, and sovereign government activities.
- Senior counsel Gopal Sankaranarayanan argued that the current definition fails the historic triple test established by the 1978 Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board v. A. Rajappa judgment.
- A nine‑judge bench in August 2026, also led by CJI Kant, held that the 1978 judgment would not bind the interpretation of Section 2(p) of the IRC, suggesting a “refinement” of the triple test.
- Justice B.V. Nagarathna, in dissent, warned that narrowing the definition could erode the safety net for labour rights.
Important Facts
The IRC, which came into force in November 2025, replaces earlier statutes such as the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947. Its defi