State’s duty is to ensure living wages for workers, not label them as ‘terrorists’, says SC, Pg8

Key Highlights:

• The Supreme Court directed the Uttar Pradesh government on May 13, 2026, not to treat wage-protesting workers as "terrorists".
• The court emphasized the state's duty to ensure living wages for workers, referencing the Directive Principles of State Policy.
• Detainees were arrested under the National Security Act for protesting for higher wages in Noida on April 13.
• The court ordered the production of the detained protesters in court on May 18 and prevented their transfer to police remand.

Detailed Insights:

• The petitioners, family members of the detained protesters, argued that multiple FIRs were filed without preliminary inquiry, labeling the detainees as "left-wing sympathisers".
• Article 43 of the Constitution mandates the state to secure living wages, decent working conditions, and social and cultural opportunities for all workers.
• The court intervened following allegations of torture in police custody, highlighting concerns over the treatment of the detained protesters.
• The case brings attention to the conflict between state security measures and constitutional obligations towards labor rights and economic justice.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Living Wage: The minimum income necessary for a worker to meet basic needs, ensuring a decent standard of living.
• Directive Principles of State Policy: Guidelines in the Constitution for the state to follow in order to promote social and economic welfare.
• National Security Act: A law in India allowing preventive detention for reasons of national security and maintenance of public order.