The Delhi High Court has pointed out a major lapse in the rollout of the government&rsquo;s new Industrial Relations Code, saying it appears to have been enforced without officially cancelling the older labour laws it was meant to replace.
The Bench observed that the Centre never issued a clear notification announcing the end of the Trade Unions Act of 1926, the Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Act of 1946, or the Industrial Disputes Act of 1947. According to the Court, a proper notification should declare both the start of the new code and the withdrawal of the older laws. As of now, the judges said, no such repeal has been published.
The Court asked the Centre&rsquo;s lawyers to coordinate with government officials and fix the procedural gap, suggesting that a separate notification could still be issued to correct the oversight. The matter will come up again on January 12, 2026.
The discussion arose during a petition that questioned the government&rsquo;s hurried implementation of the new labour code. The petitioners said that the transition had disrupted the country&rsquo;s labour dispute system, since ongoing cases were shifted to new tribunals that have not yet been formed.
In response, the government informed the Court that it has now issued a fresh notification allowing the existing Labour Courts and Industrial Tribunals to continue handling all cases, old and new, until the new setup is ready. The judges welcomed the update and expressed hope that the remaining issues would be addressed smoothly.

Court Flags Flaw in New Labour Code Rollout

Delhi High Court says old labour laws were never formally repealed before new code

Court Flags Flaw in New Labour Code Rollout

Delhi High Court says old labour laws were never formally repealed before new code

December 11, 2025 | 20:54 IST