Trade unions blast Supreme Court for restricting workers' rights in industry definition

On August 22, 2026, All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) and other unions criticized a Supreme Court judgment by a nine-judge bench that restricted the definition of industry under the Industrial Relations Code, affecting workers' rights. AITUC general secretary Amarjeet Kaur and CITU general secretary Elamaram Kareem alleged the decision favored managerial interests over worker protections, undermining previous expansive interpretations of "industry." This shift was seen as detrimental to labor peace and constitutional mandates for workers' rights.