The Delhi High Court on Thursday asked the Central Government to ensure that there is a smooth transition from the old labour law regime to the new Industrial Relations Code, 2020.

A bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela was dealing with a PIL filed by one NA Sebastian challenging the notification issued by the Central Government on November 21 bringing the Industrial Relations Code, 2020, into force.

The plea claims that the notification was issued without framing relevant rules for implementation or constituting any tribunals.

The Court was informed by ASG Chetan Sharma appearing for the Central Government that the existing labour Court and industrial tribunals will continue to deal with all the pending and new cases until the new tribunals are constituted.

While recording the said submission, the Bench ordered:

“We appreciate the efforts made by ASG Chetan Sharma and further repose our trust that at the government's end everything required to provide a smooth transition from the old to the new labour law regime shall be done.”

The matter will now be heard on January 12, 2026.

The plea submits that the Code provides for transfer of all pending cases to tribunals which are non-existent and that the entire functioning of the industrial tribunals and labour courts in Delhi has come to a halt.

It adds that unless the necessary Rules, mechanisms and tribunals are constituted, it is necessary to protect the interest of workmen.

The petition also states that the notification has a “paralysing effect” on the whole adjudicatory machinery under the Industrial Disputes Act by providing for the transfer of all pending cases to the tribunals under the Code.

Title: NA Sebastian & Anr v. Union of India