AZAD RICKHAW PULLERS UNION (REGD.) CH. TOWN HALL, AMRITSAR vs STATE OF PUNJAB & OTHERS

The Supreme Court upheld the Punjab Cycle Rickshaws (Regulation of Rickshaws) Act, 1976, emphasizing the need for a scheme to regulate licenses for cycle rickshaw drivers. The Court framed a scheme allowing licensed rickshaw pullers to apply for certificates and loans, ensuring social justice as mandated by Article 38 of the Constitution. The judgment reinforced the role of courts in protecting the rights of the weaker sections of society against exploitation, establishing that judicial intervention should promote social justice rather than merely adjudicate on legislative validity.