Delhi High Court Disposes PIL On Labour Forum Transparency, Urges Govt Action Within Three Months

Mumbai: In a move aimed at enhancing transparency and access to justice, the Delhi High Court on May 28 disposed of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by young practicing advocates Arjun Mohan and others, who sought the regular online publication of key judicial information relating to various labour forums.

The PIL raised concerns over the lack of updates on official websites regarding proceedings, video conferencing links, daily orders, cause lists, and details of presiding officers on leave in labour law forums across the country.

Hearing the matter, the Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela appreciated the initiative taken by the petitioners. The court remarked, “We appreciate the cause taken up by the petitioners in this public interest litigation petition,” acknowledging the significance of the matter in ensuring rights of both workmen and employers under various labour laws.

Highlighting the potential impact of digitisation, the bench observed, “If the processes and proceedings before these forums are made online, that will not only provide transparency in their functioning but also provide ease to seek access to justice to the needy.”

The court noted that although the petitioners had earlier submitted representations to relevant authorities, “no concrete steps have yet been taken on the issues raised by them.” Emphasising the use of technology in a welfare state, the bench stated that online facilities in labour law forums “will serve the need of the people, who require access to various forums created under various labour laws.”

In its order, the court permitted the petitioners to make “exhaustive representations” to both the Central and State Governments within two weeks. These representations are expected to comprehensively list the relevant authorities and forums under various enactments.

Importantly, the court directed that such representations “shall be attended by the respective governments at an appropriate level”, adding that the responsibility for ensuring a decision lies with the Secretary or In-charge of the concerned departments. “We expect that the respective governments shall also prepare a Standard Operating Procedure to be followed by different forums under various labour laws for implementing the facilities providing for online processes and proceedings,” the order added.

The court has given the respective governments three months from the date of receipt of the representation to take a decision.

The writ petition was accordingly disposed of with these directions.