B.H.E.L. WORKERS' ASSOCIATION HARDWAR & ORS., ETC. ETC. vs UNION OF INDIA & ORS., ETC. ETC

The Supreme Court held that the Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act, 1970 does not mandate the total abolition of contract labour but regulates its employment under specific circumstances. The Court ruled that contract labourers are entitled to the same wages and working conditions as directly employed workers, emphasizing that the Act applies to both private and public sector employers. The writ petitions seeking a declaration to abolish the contract labour system were dismissed, affirming the legality of the existing contract labour framework under the Act.