Not a fundamental right: Apex court

The SC on Thursday declined to entertain a petition seeking a declaration that domestic workers have a fundamental right to be paid minimum wages, expressing concern that such a move could have unintended consequences, including widespread litigation against households and reluctance to employ domestic help.

- FPJ News Service

A Bench of CJI Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi held that issues relating to fixation and implementation of minimum wages for domestic workers are best left to the state governments concerned.

Issuing notice to the Union government and the University Grants Commission.

(UGC), the Court directed that the matter be listed next on March 19. Until then, the Regulations will remain in abeyance, Live Law and Bar & Bench report.

Invoking its powers under Article 142 of the Constitution, the bench also ordered that the earlier UGC Regulations of 2012 would continue to operate during the pendency of the case. This was done to ensure that students are not left without a grievance redressal mechanism in the interim.