All India Trade Union Congress vs Union of India — Challenge to Industrial Relations Code, 2020

Timeline

1. 28 Oct 2026News

   AITUC Moves Supreme Court Challenging 'Industry' Definition In Industrial Relations Code 2020

   The petitioner questions the exclusions from the definition as contrary to the 1978 judgment in Bangalore Water Supply Board case.

   LiveLaw

   Explanation in simple terms

   What:

   The AITUC filed a legal challenge against the definition of industry in the Industrial Relations Code.

   Who:

   The All India Trade Union Congress is the group bringing the challenge against the Union of India, which is the government, in the Supreme Court of India.

   When:

   Reported on 28 Oct 2026.

   Where:

   Supreme Court of India.

   Why:

   The group argues that the new law removes certain groups from the definition of industry, which contradicts a past court ruling from a case about the Bangalore Water Supply Board.

   What it means:

   The Supreme Court must now decide if these exclusions are lawful according to previous legal standards.

2. 28 Oct 2026News

   Supreme Court agrees to hear challenge to definition of ‘industry’ in new Central law

   The All India Trade Union Congress Tamil Nadu’s petition challenged the definition of ‘industry’ under the Industrial Relations Code (IRC) 2020 as “deliciously vague”; The senior counsel Gopal Sankaranarayanan said the definition in the IRC Code did not meet the requirements of the ‘triple test’

   The Hindu

   Explanation in simple terms

   What:

   The Supreme Court decided to hear a legal challenge against the definition of industry in a new law.

   Who:

   The All India Trade Union Congress Tamil Nadu is the petitioner and the Union of India is the respondent. Gopal Sankaranarayanan is the senior lawyer representing the petitioner. The Supreme Court of India is the court deciding to hear the matter.

   When:

   Reported on 28 Oct 2026.

   Why:

   The petitioner claims the legal definition of industry is unclear and fails to meet established judicial testing requirements.

   What it means:

   The Supreme Court will now examine these arguments to determine if the law is defined properly.