Labour Laws at the Crossroads – Reforming in a Changing Economy

The Centre for Labour Law and Research (CLLR), National University of Study and Research in Law (NUSRL), Ranchi, organized a Panel Discussion-cum-Workshop under the Nyay Setu Project on the theme “Labour Laws at the Crossroads – Reforming in a Changing Economy.” The programme was designed to examine the evolving landscape of labour laws in India in response to rapid economic and technological transformations. The emergence of the gig economy, digital platforms, technological advancements, and the expansion of informal employment have generated new challenges for labour regulation and worker protection. Against this backdrop, the event sought to facilitate informed discussions on the need for practical, inclusive, and future-oriented labour law reforms.

The programme brought together academicians, legal experts, judicial officers, policymakers, industry representatives, Para Legal Volunteers (PLVs), and other stakeholders to deliberate on contemporary labour law issues and explore mechanisms for improving access to justice. In addition to academic discussions, the workshop focused on practical aspects of dispute resolution, legal aid, mediation, and community engagement. Special emphasis was placed on identifying barriers faced by workers in vulnerable and unorganised sectors and exploring effective solutions through institutional collaboration.

The Nyay Setu Project aims to bridge the gap between legal institutions and communities by promoting legal awareness, strengthening mediation and pre-litigation mechanisms, and ensuring that justice reaches marginalized and disadvantaged populations in an accessible, affordable, and timely manner.

Presiding over the programme, Prof. (Dr.) Ashok R. Patil, Vice-Chancellor, NUSRL, Ranchi, highlighted the significance of the Nyay Setu Project in strengthening access to justice and promoting legal empowerment at the grassroots level. He emphasized that legal education must extend beyond classrooms and courtrooms to address the real-life challenges faced by communities, particularly workers and marginalized groups. Referring to the objectives of the project, he noted that Nyay Setu serves as an important bridge between legal institutions and society by fostering legal awareness, encouraging mediation and pre-litigation dispute resolution, and ensuring that legal assistance reaches those who are often excluded from formal justice mechanisms. He further observed that in a rapidly changing economic environment, characterized by emerging forms of employment and evolving labour relations, initiatives such as Nyay Setu play a crucial role in promoting social justice, protecting workers’ rights, and creating a more accessible and inclusive justice delivery system. Prof. Patil also commended the efforts of the Centre for Labour Law and Research for undertaking a project that combines academic engagement with meaningful social impact and expressed confidence that the initiative would contribute significantly to the cause of legal empowerment and community welfare.

The inaugural session was graced by distinguished dignitaries including Shri Niraj Kumar Srivastava, Principal Secretary-cum-L.R., Department of Law, Government of Jharkhand; Shri Abhishek Kumar, Civil Judge (Senior Division), Deputy Registrar (Deputy Secretary), Jharkhand State Legal Services Authority (JHALSA); Advocate Aruna Prakash, Jharkhand High Court and Supreme Court Accredited Mediator; and Shri Siddharth Shankar Lal, General Manager (SD & CSR), Central Coalfields Limited (CCL). The programme also witnessed active participation from Para Legal Volunteers representing various blocks of Ranchi and Ramgarh districts, including Khelari, Burmu, Kanke, Ratu, Ormanjhi, Chanho, Ramgarh, Patratu, Chitarpur, Dulmi, Gola, and Mandu.

In his address, Shri Abhishek Kumar appreciated the Nyay Setu Project as an important initiative for promoting legal literacy and strengthening access to justice for marginalized and vulnerable communities. He highlighted the efforts undertaken by the Jharkhand State Legal Services Authority (JHALSA) to make justice more accessible, affordable, and efficient. Referring to Section 12 of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, he explained that free legal services are available to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, women, children, industrial workmen, and other disadvantaged groups. He particularly emphasized that industrial workmen are specifically entitled to free legal aid under the Act. Shri Kumar also stressed the importance of mediation and dialogue-based dispute resolution mechanisms, noting that community mediation provides labourers and marginalized communities with a quick, effective, and cost-efficient means of resolving disputes. According to him, such initiatives align closely with the objectives of the Nyay Setu Project by bringing justice closer to people, especially those residing in remote and underserved areas.

Shri Niraj Kumar Srivastava commended the efforts of NUSRL and the Centre for Labour Law and Research in fostering practical legal education and community engagement. He observed that universities play a crucial role in connecting academic learning with social realities. Highlighting the role of Para Legal Volunteers introduced by the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) in 2009, he described PLVs as an indispensable link between legal institutions and the public. He further emphasized the significance of pre-litigation mechanisms and alternative dispute resolution processes, observing that mediation and settlement procedures often provide quicker, less expensive, and more effective remedies than formal court proceedings. Such mechanisms, he noted, not only reduce the burden on courts but also enhance access to justice for individuals and communities in need.

Advocate Aruna Prakash highlighted the transformative potential of mediation as an effective and humane method of dispute resolution. Drawing upon her extensive experience as a mediator accredited by both the Jharkhand High Court and the Supreme Court of India, she emphasized that mediation enables parties to participate actively in resolving disputes while preserving relationships and promoting mutually beneficial outcomes. She particularly noted the relevance of mediation in labour disputes, where maintaining harmonious relationships between employers and workers is often essential. She encouraged legal professionals and Para Legal Volunteers to promote awareness about mediation at the grassroots level so that disputes may be resolved at an early stage before escalating into prolonged litigation.

In his keynote address, Shri Siddharth Shankar Lal reflected upon the broader purpose of education and social responsibility. He observed that the true objective of education extends beyond securing employment and includes contributing meaningfully to society. Sharing a personal experience from a visit to a court in Hazaribagh, he recounted witnessing an elderly litigant who had made significant sacrifices merely to pursue justice. The incident highlighted the hardships faced by economically vulnerable individuals within the formal legal system and underscored the need for more accessible and humane dispute resolution mechanisms. He explained that the Nyay Setu Project emerged from the recognition that many disputes can and should be addressed at their earliest stages through dialogue and community engagement, thereby preventing unnecessary hardship and prolonged legal conflict. Shri Lal also reaffirmed Central Coalfields Limited’s commitment to supporting educational, legal, and social development initiatives through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programmes. He encouraged students, legal professionals, and social workers to identify innovative projects capable of improving the lives of marginalized communities and assured continued institutional support for such initiatives.

A dedicated session on the role of Para Legal Volunteers was conducted with Dr. Sunny Bhushan, Advocate Khalida Haya Rashmi, Mr. Ramesh Majhi, and Dr. Shweta Mohan serving as panelists. The discussion focused on the crucial role played by PLVs in promoting legal awareness, facilitating access to legal services, assisting beneficiaries in availing government welfare schemes, and strengthening community-level dispute resolution mechanisms. The panelists emphasized the importance of grassroots legal empowerment and highlighted the contribution of PLVs in connecting vulnerable populations with legal institutions and justice delivery mechanisms.

The programme also featured an interactive session with Para Legal Volunteers from various blocks of Ranchi and Ramgarh districts. The session provided an opportunity for participants to share their experiences and discuss practical challenges encountered while carrying out legal awareness and community outreach activities. Volunteers raised concerns relating to access to government welfare schemes, documentation requirements, dispute resolution at the grassroots level, and logistical difficulties in reaching remote and underserved communities. The session was effectively facilitated by Dr. Shantanu Braj Choubey and Dr. Shweta Mohan, Faculty Co-Convenors of the Centre for Labour Law and Research (CLLR), NUSRL, Ranchi. Through constructive dialogue and practical guidance, they addressed the concerns raised by the participants, clarified procedural and institutional aspects of legal aid delivery, and suggested practical measures to enhance the effectiveness of community-based legal assistance. The interaction underscored the vital role played by Para Legal Volunteers in strengthening access to justice and reinforced the importance of continuous capacity-building, institutional support, and collaboration between legal services authorities, academic institutions, and community stakeholders.

The programme concluded with a collective commitment to promoting legal literacy, strengthening mediation and pre-litigation dispute resolution mechanisms, and expanding access to justice for all sections of society. The deliberations highlighted the importance of collaboration among legal institutions, educational establishments, government agencies, industry stakeholders, and community-level legal service providers in building a more inclusive and accessible justice system. The Nyay Setu Project emerged as a significant initiative dedicated to empowering communities, reducing barriers to justice, and ensuring that legal assistance reaches those who need it most. Through legal awareness programmes, mediation initiatives, capacity-building of Para Legal Volunteers, and institutional cooperation, the project seeks to bring justice closer to the people and contribute meaningfully to the realization of social justice and inclusive development.