IRAC Analysis Of People's Union For Democratic Rights And Ors. Vs. Union Of India And Ors.

Khushpreet Kaur Matharu, Symbiosis Law School, Pune

CITATION: AIR 1982 SC 1473

FACTS

1. It was a moment of great honour when India was selected as the hosting country for the prestigious Asian games. In order to successfully comply with the international standards set for the games, the country had to embark upon various constructions such as building of the Asian games village, construction of swimming pools, multi- purpose stadiums etc.

2. The construction of the same was contracted out to several authorities like the Delhi Development Authority, the New Delhi Municipal Committee, and the Delhi Administration by the Indian government.

3. The various authorities engaged several contractors for the same and registered themselves as Principal employers under Section 7 of the Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act, 1970.

4. A Writ petition was brought in the way of a Public interest litigation (Mentioned as ‘ PIL’ hereafter) by the 1st petitioner, which was an organisation formed for the purpose of protecting democratic rights. The organisation engaged three social scientists for the purpose of investigating and inquiring into the conditions under which the workmen engaged in the various Asiad projects were working and form a report of the same.

5. The letter sent to the Hon’ble court was based on the aforementioned report.

6. The following was done as the petitioners felt that there was an acute breach of fundamental rights of the labourers and it was time to issue observance of the various labour laws which were being blatantly ignored during the several Asiad construction projects.