Reviewed case brief
Sanjit Roy v State of Rajasthan
AIR 1983 SC 328
## Summary
- Court
- Supreme Court of India
- Year
- 1983
- Subjects
- Labour Law II
- Reviewed
- 2026-07-20
Rule established
Payment of wages below the statutorily prescribed minimum wage to workers engaged on famine relief or drought relief works amounts to forced labour within the meaning of Article 23 of the Constitution, and cannot be justified merely because the work is offered as relief during a scarcity or emergency; the state cannot use economic distress as a ground to pay less than minimum wages.
Facts
Issues
Held
Ratio decidendi
How to use it in an exam
Editorial source
AIR 1983 SC 328; landmark authority connecting sub-minimum wages to forced labour under Article 23, cross-verify citation before exam use
Educational summary only. Read the reported judgment or an authorised law report before relying on the case professionally.