President Murmu Empowers Union Territories with Industrial Relations Code Authority

Presidential Directive on Industrial Relations Code

President Droupadi Murmu has authorized the administrators and lieutenant governors of all Union Territories to exercise the powers of the 'appropriate government' under the Industrial Relations Code, 2020. This initiative aims to ensure clarity and uniformity in the implementation of labor laws across all Union Territories. The directive is issued under Article 239(1) of the Constitution, replacing previous notifications issued on January 16, 2023, and June 22, 2023.

Continuity and Legal Certainty Maintained

A new notification from the Ministry of Home Affairs, released on January 2, clarifies that actions taken or omitted under prior notifications will remain unaffected, ensuring continuity and legal certainty. According to the notification, the administrators or lieutenant governors of the National Capital Territory of Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu, Chandigarh, Puducherry, Lakshadweep, Ladakh, and Jammu and Kashmir will exercise the powers of the appropriate government or state government under the Industrial Relations Code, 2020, while remaining under the President's control until further notice.

Scope of the Presidential Directive

Following Article 239(1) of the Constitution and revoking notifications S.O. 273(E) dated January 16, 2023, S.O. 2750(E) dated June 22, 2023, and S.O. 2752(E) dated June 22, 2023, the President directs that the administrators or lieutenant governors of the National Capital Territory of Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu, Chandigarh, Puducherry, Lakshadweep, Ladakh, and Jammu and Kashmir will exercise the powers of the appropriate government or state government under the Industrial Relations Code, 2020 (35 of 2020) and carry out functions in areas where it is necessary for these Union Territories to act as the appropriate government or state government.