Why A SC Judge Asked Lawyers To Watch Movies Like ‘Deewar’, ‘Kaala Patthar’, ‘Do Bigha Zameen’ and ‘Naya Daur’

Supreme Court Judge, Justice Sanjay Karol, termed the 4 Labour Codes brought in by the Union Government in November last year as a “significant step in India’s journey from a fragmented labour system towards a more coherent and inclusive framework seeking to align constitutional ideals with economic realities to ensure growth and justice move forward together," but said that the lawyer community has a “major role to play in realizing what has been postulated."India has implemented four new labour codes, effective November 21, 2025, consolidating 29 central labor laws to simplify compliance, enhance social security, and improve working conditions. These codes cover wages, industrial relations, social security, and occupational safety, applying

to both organized and unorganized sectors.Speaking on the topic “Dr B R Ambedkar: Architect Of Indian Labour Laws” as chief guest at the Ambedkar Jayanti event organised by Adhivakta Parishad (Supreme Court unit), Justice Karol said, "The Four Labour Codes aim to be presented as a significant step in India’s journey from a fragmented labour system towards a more coherent and inclusive framework. They seek to align constitutional ideals with economic realities, and to ensure that growth and justice move forward together. Whether they succeed will depend on our collective commitment to implementation, accountability, and continuous improvement. The legal community has a major role to play in realizing what all has been postulated, particularly for the younger members, to espouse the causes of the workers and labourers.”Justice Karol said Hindi cinema, especially in the decades following independence, often served as a mirror to the struggles of the working class. “Films such as ‘Deewar’ depicted the consequences of betrayal faced by a trade union worker and its impact on the next generation. In ‘Kaala Patthar’, the harsh realities of coal miners and unsafe working conditions were brought to the forefront, inspired by real industrial disasters. Even earlier, films like ‘Do Bigha Zameen’ and ‘Naya Daur’ captured the anxieties of displacement, industrialisation, and the tension between labour and technology. These films did more than entertain. They gave visibility to the worker, they humanised economic struggle, and they placed questions of justice, dignity, and exploitation into public discourse”. The judge added that in more recent decades, such narratives have become less prominent, reflecting a broader shift in societal focus towards aspirational and consumption-driven and capitalist stories rather than those centered on labour and class.

What made Ambedkar great

“What made Ambedkar great is the question I pose to myself. He had seen people of India from very very close quarters and could sense their feelings and problems and translate them into thought and action, and that is what I emulate every day. He did not view democracy merely as a political arrangement. He understood it as a way of life, grounded in equality, dignity, and social justice. Nowhere is this vision more relevant than in the domain of labour. Dr. Ambedkar consistently emphasised that political democracy cannot endure without social and economic democracy. The workplace, therefore, becomes one of the most important arenas where constitutional values must find expression. The dignity of labour, the fairness of wages, the security of employment, and the conditions under which people work are not peripheral concerns. They lie at the heart of the constitutional promise," he said. Justice Karole said, “Industrialisation under colonial rule introduced new sectors of employment, yet it also deepened exploitation. Workers were subjected to long hours, unsafe conditions, and minimal protections. Problem of labourers continued even after independence... unorganised workers worked in an environment of insecurity with no legal protection”.

Continuing child labour, women workers’ plight

The SC judge added, “Yet, even as we speak of constitutional guarantees, we must confront an uncomfortable reality that of child labour and the rights of women. Child labour, though constitutionally prohibited and statutorily regulated, continues to persist in segments of the economy that remain informal and weakly regulated. It exists in small workshops, in domestic spaces, in agriculture, and within supply chains that are not always visible to formal enforcement mechanisms.” “The elimination of child labour will ultimately depend on sustained enforcement, educational access, and broader socio-economic support systems that remove the necessity for children to work,” he added. “The position of women workers deserves particular attention. Historically, women’s labour in India has been marked by both invisibility and inequality. A significant proportion of women work in informal or home-based settings where legal protections are limited. This trend post-COVID has skyrocketed with over urbanisation. Even within formal employment, disparities in wages, access, and workplace safety persist. However, real progress will depend on effective implementation, workplace safety measures, and broader social change that enables women to participate fully and equally in the labour force," said Justice Karol. The event of Adhivakta Parishad Supreme Court Unit was hosted by its President Vinay Navare, T Bhaskar Gowtham (General secretary),Rashmi Singhania (Vice President), Bharati Tyagi, (Mahila team Coordinator) and Ankita Chaudhary (National Council Member). It was held at Prime Minister Museum and Library, Teen Murti Bhavan.