Casual workers on a tea plantation got lower wages than permanent workers doing the same tasks. Identify the Directive Principle their claim rests on. Into which Fundamental Right has the Supreme Court read it?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → Right to Equality
Option (1) Right to Equality — Correct. The claim rests on the Directive Principle of Equal Pay for Equal Work. The Supreme Court read it into the Right to Equality under Article 14 and gave relief to many plantation and agricultural labourers.
Option (2) Right to life and liberty — Incorrect. The right to life and liberty under Article 21 was widened to cover livelihood, health, shelter, education and dignity. Lower pay for the same task is a matter of unequal treatment, so it falls under equality.
Option (3) Right against Exploitation — Incorrect. The Right against Exploitation protects people from forced labour and trafficking in human beings. The tea workers were paid, only less than others, so their claim is about unequal pay.
Option (4) Right to Freedom of Speech and Expression — Incorrect. The Freedom of Speech and Expression under Article 19(1)(a) was read to include the Right to Information in 1993. It protects free expression of views and information, and pay for equal work lies outside it.
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