A group of IIT-Kanpur alumni have filed a writ petition in the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad high court over the alleged violation of labour laws at IIT Kanpur.

The petitioners are IPS officer Amitabh Thakur, IIM-Lucknow professor Shailendra Singh, renowned mathematics teacher KC Joshi, bridge player Shantanu Rastogi, senior railway officer Prithul Gupta, defence accounts officer DK Rai, physics teacher Shaalu Rai.

They have prayed before the high court that a large number of labourers are employed at the institute on contract for building and construction work, security, sanitation, horticulture, maintenance etc.

The Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act and Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Rules have been promulgated for their security and welfare. Section 12 of this Act makes licensing of contractors obligatory. The Act also lays down requirement of rest-rooms, potable water, toilets, and first-aid facilities among other things at the workplace, besides minimum wages to the workers.

The petitioners have contended that the Act states that the “principal employer” (IIT Kanpur in this case) shall be responsible for the compliance of these provisions in case the contractor fails in his duty. In addition, other Acts like Minimum Wages Act, Employees’ State Insurance Act, Employees’ Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act are also applicable with regard to such labour.

The petitioners have said that despite the best efforts made by a host of people concerned, including the ex-alumni, professors of the institute, socially aware persons and groups of workers, there has been no improvement in compliance of the various labour laws there.

Amitabh Thakur and others have requested the court to direct the respondents to comply with the labour laws. The petitioners have presented huge evidences to prove that laws are not being implemented at IIT Kanpur.