Indian Economy·Key Judgments

Contract Labor Regulation — Key Judgments

Updated 9 Mar 2026

Key Judgments

People's Union for Democratic Rights v. Union of India (1982)

1982

This landmark judgment, often referred to as the 'Asiad Workers' case, significantly expanded the interpretation of 'forced labour' under Article 23 of the Constitution. The…

Standard Chartered Bank v. Directorate of Enforcement (2005)

2005

While not directly on contract labour, this judgment is significant for its pronouncement on corporate criminal liability, which has implications for principal employers and…