Law and Social Justice

Introduction

According to laws on minimum wages, workers must be paid at least the minimum wage set by the employer. There are also various laws designed to protect the interests of producers and consumers in the market. These laws help ensure fair relationships between workers, consumers, and producers, preventing exploitation.

• By creating, enforcing, and upholding these laws, the government can regulate the actions of individuals and private companies to promote social justice and ensure fair treatment for all.

What is a Worker’s Worth?

In India, due to high unemployment, many workers are willing to accept unsafe working conditions for a wage, making it easy for one worker to replace another.

• This has led to ongoing issues, such as frequent accidents in construction sites, mines, and factories, reflecting the employersdisregard for safety. A worker's worth is essentially how much value or importance they hold in their industry.

Enforcement of Safety Laws

The government is responsible for ensuring that safety laws are properly enforced and that the Right to Life, as guaranteed by Article 21 of the Constitution, is protected. However, as demonstrated by the Bhopal Gas Tragedy, governmental negligence can lead to disastrous outcomes.

In this case:

→ Lack of Recognition : Government officials failed to recognize the plant as a hazardous facility and allowed it to operate in a densely populated area.

→ Failure to Demand Safer Practices: The government did not require Union Carbide to adopt cleaner technologies or safer procedures.

→ Inadequate Inspections: Government inspectors continued to approve the plant’s procedures despite repeated incidents of leaks, indicating serious safety issues.

New Laws to Protect the Environment

The Bhopal Gas Tragedy highlighted the urgent need to protect the environment from industrial pollution. Previously, industries could pollute the air and water with little regulation. In response, the Indian government introduced new environmental laws to address these issues.

Key Points Include:

→ Fundamental Right: The Right to Life under Article 21 of the Constitution now includes the right to a clean and healthy environment, encompassing pollution-free air and water

→ Judicial Support: Courts have upheld that a healthy environment is essential for the full enjoyment of the Fundamental Right to Life

→ Government Responsibility: The government must implement laws to control pollution, clean rivers, and impose heavy fines on polluters.

The Bhopal disaster underscored the need for effective laws and enforcement. While the government plays an important role in regulating and monitoring industries, public pressure is also vital to ensure both private companies and government agencies prioritize environmental and social justice.

MCQs

1. Which word is used for pollution?

(a) Contamination

(b) Toxic

(c) Pure

(d) None of these

► (a) Contamination

2. The law against child labour was implemented in

(a) 2001

(b) 2003

(c) 2005

(d) 2006

► (d) 2006

3. Even today more than a year after this law was passed ___ of child domestic workers are under the age of 16.

(a) 84 percent

(b) 74 percent

(c) 54 percent

(d) 64 percent

► (b) 74 percent

4. According to the 2001 census, over __ million children in India aged between 5 and 14 work in various occupations including hazardous ones

(a) 13

(b) 15

(c) 11

(d) 12

► (d) 12

5. In the eyes of the law it is _____ to deny workers their wages.

(a) illegal

(b) Accurate

(c) Legal

(d) Appropriate

► (a) illegal

6. The Census of India, __ puts rural household electrification at 44 per cent, leaving around 78 million households still in the dark.

(a) 2001

(b) 2011

(c) 1981

(d) 1991

► (a) 2001

7. Which of the following is powerlooms?

(a) Where the production is made by hand.

(b) Where the production is made by machines using electricity.

(c) Both (a) and (b)

(d) None of these

► (b) Where the production is made by machines using electricity.

8. What is the term used for a ten-year old child working in a factory?

(a) Child labour

(b) Factory worker

(c) Baildaar

(d) All of these

► (a) Child labour

9. South Asian countries "particularly__________" play hosts for industries producing pesticides, asbestos or processing zinc and lead

(a) India, Bangladesh and Pakistan

(b) India, Bangladesh and Japan

(c) India, Bangladesh and China

(d) India, Bangladesh and Brazil

► (a) India, Bangladesh and Pakistan

10. The term used for event in which large number of losses occur to life and property:

(a) Toxic

(b) Poisonous

(c) Disaster

(d) Vulnerable

► (c) Disaster

11. The Indian Constitution guarantees the Right to Education for all children between the ages of

(a) 6-18 years

(b) 6-15 years

(c) 6-14 years

(d) 6-16 years

► (c) 6-14 years

12. Union Carbide is an

(a) Australian company

(b) American company

(c) African company

(d) European company

► (b) American company

13. Right to life comes under article

(a) 16

(b) 20

(c) 21

(d) 17

► (c) 21

14. Minimum Wages Act specifies that wages should not be below a specified minimum, whose interest is protected by this law

(a) Child

(b) Owner

(c) Women

(d) Workers

► (d) Workers

15. The money spent to purchase new machine or building for gaining profits in future is called

(a) investment

(b) expenditure

(c) losses

(d) none of these

► (a) investment

16. Which of the following are hazardous industries?

(a) Pesticides

(b) Asbestos producing

(c) Ship breaking

(d) All of these

► (d) All of these

17. Which type of pollution is created by vehicle’s smoke?

(a) Air pollution

(b) Water pollution

(c) Noise pollution

(d) All of these

► (a) Air pollution

18. How do the private companies earn more profit?

(a) Giving high wages

(b) Less working hours

(c) Both of these

(d) None of these

► (d) None of these