Case Brief: Bandhua Mukti Morcha v. Union of India and Ors.
Case Brief: Bandhua Mukti Morcha v. Union of India and Ors.
Citation: AIR 1984 SC 802, (1984) 3 SCC 161
Court: Supreme Court of India
Date: 1984
Facts:
Bandhua Mukti Morcha (an NGO) filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking the release and rehabilitation of bonded laborers who were working under exploitative conditions in various parts of India. The petitioners contended that bonded labor was a violation of fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution of India.
Issues:
Whether the practice of bonded labor violates the fundamental rights under the Constitution of India.
Whether the government has a constitutional obligation to rescue and rehabilitate bonded laborers.
Judgment:
The Supreme Court held that:
Bonded labor violates Article 23 of the Constitution, which prohibits trafficking and forced labor.
Bonded labor also violates fundamental rights under Articles 14 (Right to Equality) and 21 (Right to Life and Personal Liberty).
The government is under a constitutional duty to rescue bonded laborers and ensure their rehabilitation.
The Court issued detailed directions to the Union and State Governments to identify, release, and rehabilitate bonded laborers and to take measures to eradicate bonded labor altogether.
Significance:
This case expanded the scope of Article 21 to include the right to live with human dignity.
It reinforced the doctrine of social justice by actively involving the judiciary in the protection of vulnerable groups through Public Interest Litigation (PIL).
Established that bonded labor is unconstitutional and illegal, emphasizing state accountability in protecting fundamental rights.
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