Letters to The Editor — March 20, 2026

‘Industry’ definition

It is quite surprising that a nine-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court of India has been constituted to reconsider the definition of industry under the repealed Industrial Disputes Act. The definition came to be settled in the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board case (1978 2 SCC 213) and has stood the test of time for almost 50 years, providing a democratic forum to the working class.

It is perplexing that the Court is going into the correctness of the earlier definition when the new definition itself is under scrutiny. Though the earlier interpretation was wide, workers were hard-pressed to get any relief. If, at this distance of time, the interpretation is now narrowed, many workers who had at least had a forum will be left without one. While it is true that Parliament can amend the law, any interpretation that leads to under-inclusion would be in gross violation of Articles 14 and 21.

N.G.R. Prasad,

Chennai

Children in the crossfire

The loss of children in any war is a grave humanitarian crisis. In the context of the Iran-Israel-U.S. conflict, actions such as airstrikes, attacks and regional instability have led to casualties of children on both sides. Children are often displaced, facing risks of diseases and lacking access to basic necessities. Also, conflicts disrupt education, depriving children of learning opportunities. While war causes massive casualties across all demographics, the long-term, structural and physical devastation disproportionately impacts children, often leading to life-long trauma or premature death (Opinion page – Data Point, “Children have borne the brunt of Israel-U.S. aggression”, March 19). Global leaders, therefore, must prioritise diplomacy over escalation, uphold international law, and ensure that all states renew their commitment to global stability and the mechanisms designed to protect children in armed conflicts.

R. Sivakumar,

Chennai