Congress Criticizes Supreme Court Ruling on 'Industry' Definition
· India · The Hindu, Hindustan Times, Indian Express
The Congress party has expressed concern over a recent Supreme Court judgment that limits the application of its 1978 worker-friendly definition of 'industry' to future cases. In the case of State of Uttar Pradesh versus Jai Bir Singh, delivered on August 20, 2026, the court ruled that the 1978 precedent will not apply to new cases under the Industrial Relations Code, 2020. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh argued that this shift risks weakening essential worker safeguards and creates uncertainty in industrial relations. The 1978 Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board versus A Rajappa verdict had established a broad definition of industry, including activities regardless of profit motive. The party contends that narrowing this interpretation could alter who qualifies as a workman entitled to legal protections.
Why it matters
The ruling potentially changes the legal criteria for determining which employees are entitled to labour law protections, creating significant implications for workers in sectors previously covered by the broader definition.
Read the original report — The Hindu
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