On Friday, May 15, 2026, the Supreme Court reminded the state of its obligation to provide workers with a “living wage” in accordance with the constitutional directive Principles of State Policy. File | Photo credit: PTI
The Uttar Pradesh government should not consider those who protested for higher wages in Noida on April 13 as “terrorists”, the Supreme Court said on Friday (May 15, 2026), reminding the state of its duty to provide workers with a “living wage” under the constitutional directive Principles of State Policy.
“They were demanding higher wages… don’t think they are terrorists,” Uttar Pradesh state lawyer Justice BV Nagarathna, who headed a two-member bench including Justice Ujjal Bhuyan, told the state.
Held under the NSA
Representatives Colin Gonsalves and Shahrukh Alam, who are family members of protesters detained and jailed by the UP police under the National Security Act, appeared for the petitioners – who are family members of protesters detained and jailed by the UP police – and said the authorities had registered several FIRs against the protesters citing the same conspiracy and without any preliminary investigation.
Ms. Alam said the only mark the authorities could find against the detainees was that they were “left-wing sympathizers.”
Directive principles
“Isn’t it the case that the Directive Principles of State Policy require the state to ensure that workers are paid a living wage?” Justice Bhuyan asked.
Ms. Alam pointed to Article 43 of the Constitution, which mandates that the state “endeavour, by law or economic organization or by any other legitimate means, to ensure to all workers, including agricultural and industrial workers, “a living wage, working conditions ensuring a decent standard of living and the full enjoyment of leisure time and social and cultural opportunities”.
Instead of fulfilling their duties, the lawyer noted, the state detained them as “agents provocateurs” of the Noida protest.
“Tortured in police custody”
The bench directed the state of Uttar Pradesh to produce two young men to be detained in Kasna jail on May 18 at 2 pm in the Supreme Court. Their family members also filed a habeas corpus petition in the Allahabad High Court to know their whereabouts.
The court also barred the state from transferring the two men from judicial custody to police custody. The brothers of one of the detainees, Aditya Anand, alleged that the detainees were tortured in police custody.
Appearing for Mr Anand’s family, Mr Gonsalves said he is an engineer working in a factory and also runs a children’s library. A senior counsel said Mr. Anand’s speeches at the protests were aimed at workers’ rights, adding that recordings were available to prove his claims.
Published – 15 May 2026 21:11 IST
