Holding

The right to health and medical care is a fundamental right under Article 21 (read with Articles 39(c), 41, 43, 48A), and the Court may issue binding directions to employers under Articles 32 and 142, making factories liable to pay liquidated damages for asbestos‑related disease.

Summary

The Consumer Education and Research Centre filed a public‑interest writ under Article 32 seeking protection for workers in asbestos mines and industries, alleging that the right to health and medical care is a fundamental right under Article 21 read with Articles 39(c), 41, 43 and 48A of the Constitution. The petition demanded statutory directions – maintenance of health records for up to 40 years, adoption of the membrane‑filter test, compulsory health insurance, revision of permissible exposure limits, re‑examination of suspected asbestosis cases and compensation of Rs 1 lakh per affected worker. The Court held that the right to health is indeed a fundamental right, that courts may issue binding directions to both public and private employers under Articles 32 and 142, and that factories are vicariously liable to pay liquidated damages for asbestos‑related disease. Consequently, the writ was allowed and the specific directions were issued. The judgment also affirmed that compensation can be awarded in public‑law claims under Article 32/226 despite sovereign immunity.

Issues considered

The extent to which the right to health and medical aid is a fundamental right under Article 21 and related Directive Principles.
Whether courts can issue enforceable directions to private employers under Articles 32 and 142 in a public‑interest litigation.
The liability of employers for compensation for occupational diseases like asbestosis after cessation of employment.
The appropriateness of the specific remedial directions (health records, membrane‑filter test, insurance, exposure limits, re‑examination and compensation).
The availability of monetary compensation as a public‑law remedy under Article 32/226 despite sovereign immunity.

Legislation cited

Constitution of Indias. Art.142, s. Art.21, s. Art.226, s. Art.32, s. Art.39(c), s. Art.41, s. Art.43, s. Art.48A
Employees' State Insurance Act, 1948
Factories Act, 1948s. Rule 123A
ILO Convention No.162 (Asbestos Convention, 1986)
ILO Rule – All Safety in the Use of Asbestos
Metalliferrous Mines Regulations, 1961
Vienna Convention (pertaining to asbestos safety)
Workmen's Compensation Act, 1923

Subjects

right to healthfundamental rightArticle 21asbestosoccupational diseasepublic interest litigationemployer liabilitycompensationILO Convention 162workers' rightsconstitutional lawenvironmental healthoccupational safety

Judgment

A CONSUMER EDUCATION AND RESEARCH CENTRE AND ORS.
v.
UNION OF INDIA AND ORS.

JANUARY 27, 1995

B [AM. AHMADI, CJ, MADAN MOHAN PUNCHHI AND
K. RAMASWAMY, JJ.)

Constition of India-Art. 21, 39(e), 41, 43, 48A-Right to life-Right to
health-Right to health and vigour.of workers while in se7Vice or pose.rettre-
C ment.
Right to medical aid-Occupational health hazards and diseases of
workmen employed in mines and asbestos industries-Vicarious liability of
employer to pay damages.

D Article 32 or 226-Public Law claims-Money compensation can be
granted for enforcement and protection of Fundamental Rights.

Convention 162 of International Labour Conference-India. one of the
signatories-Rules provided by !LO, Geneva made applicable.

E Factories Act-Rule 123A issued by the Government of India-Yawning
gaps-Filled by directives of the Courl. ·.

Practice and Procedure-Public Interest Litigation-Employer bound
by direction issued by the Court under Arl. 32 and 142-Even though not a
party to the proceedings. /..
F
By Public Interest Litigation under ArticJe 32 oJ the .Constitution·
highlighting the .lacuna in diverse provisions.: of -law applicable to the
a~bestos industry, petitioner sought remedial measures for the protection
of the health of the workers engaged in mines and asbestos industries with.:
G adequate mechanism for diagnosis and control of the silent killer disease-
'asbestosis'.

The appellants sought directions to all industries to maintain and
preserve compulsorily, health records of each workman for a stipulated
duration, to adopt the 'Membrane Filter Test', to compulsorily insure their
H employees and for the appointment of a committee of experts to determine
626
CONSUMER EDUCATION CENTRE v. U.0.1. . 627

the sta~dard of permissible exposure limit value. Petitioners also prayed A·
for appropriate directions .to the State Governments to insure the
'workmen, to direct medical re-examinatfon of persons found suffering
from -asbestosis by the National Institute of Occupational Health and_to
the Central Government for appointment of a Committee to recommend
whether the dry process was to be completely replaced by the wet process. B
Allowing the writ petition, this Court

HELD : 1.1. The right to health and medical care is a fundamental
right under Article 21 read with Articles 39(c), 41and43 of the Constitu-
tion which made the life of the workman meaningful and purposeful with C
dignity of person. Right to life included protection of the h~alth and
strength of the worker as a minimum requirement to enable a person to
live with human dignity. The Union and State Government, public and
private industry was enjoined to take such action that would promote
health, strength and vigour of the workmen during the period of employ-
ment and leisure and health even after retirement as a basic essential to D
live life. The health and strength of the worker was an. integral facet of the
rmht to life and denial thereof denuded the workman of his livelihood and
the finer facets of life violating Art. 21. [659-G-H, 660-A]

1.2. The right to human dignity, development of personality, social E
protection, right to rest and leisure were fundamental Huma,n Rights to a
workman assured by the Charter of Human rights, in the Preamble and .
Arts. 38 and 39 of the Constitution. Facilities for medical care and health
ensured stable ma;npower for economic development and generated devo-
tion to duty and dedication. Health of the worker enabled him to enjoy the
• fruit of his labour, keeping him physically fit and mentally.alert. for leading
.
. F
a successful life, economically, socially and culturally. Medical facilities to
protect the health of the workers· are therefore, the fundamental and
human rights of the workmen. [660-B-C]

1.3. Right to health, medical aid to protect the health.and vigour of
a worker while in ser\rice or post retirement is a fundamental right under G
Article 21, read with Articles 39(c), 41, 43, 48A and all related Articles and
fundamental human,rights. [660-D] ·

2. In an appropriate case, the Court could give appropriate direc·
tions to the employer, be it the State or its undertaking or private employer
j
H
_/
628 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1995] 1 S.C.R.

A to make the right to life meani~gful, to prevent pollution at the workplace,
for protection of the environment, for protection of the health of the
~-
workman or to preserve free and unpolluted water for the safety and health
of the people. The authorities·or even private persons or industries were
bound by the directions issued by the Court under Articles 32 and 142 of
the Constitution. (662-B]
B
3.1. The Government of India issued model rule 123·A under Fae·
tories Act for adoption. Under the directions issued by the Court from time
to time, all the state governments had amended their respective rules and "\

adopted the same but still there were yawning gaps in their effective
c implementation. In the light of the rules "All Safety in the Use 'of Asbestos"
issued by the I.L.O., the-same_ were bi.nding. on all the industries. [663-A]
..-·-
- ..
~

.. - - -' . ... ........ -

3.2. The Asbestos International Association (AJA), London has been
publishing a code of conduct for its members in accordance with the
international .practice and admittedly all the members of AIC had been *
D . following the same. In view of that admission, they were bound by the ~.

directions issued by the ILO. Therefore, it is not necessary to issue ~

directions to the Union or State governments to constitute a committee to ·'•
convert the dry process of .manufacturing .into wet process but they were
bound by the rules s.pecifically referred to in the judgment as well as the
E I.L.O. rules. [663·C·D]

4. The Employees State Insurance Act and the Workmen's.Compen·
sation Act provided for payment of mandatory compensation for the injury
or death caused to the workman while in employment. Since the Act di~
p not provide for payment of compensation after cessation of employment,
it was necessary to protect such persons after the respective dates of
.
cessation of their employment. Liquidated damages by way of compensa·
tion are accepted principles of compensation. In the light of the law above
laid down and also on the doctrine of tortious liability, the respective
factories or companies are bound to compensate the workmen for the
G health hazard which was the cause for the disease with which the workmen
were suffering from or had suffered pending the writ petitions. Therefore, V r

the factory or establishment were responsible to pay liquidated damages
to the concerned workmen. (663-E·F]

H 5. All the industries are directed to :
CONSUMER EDUCATION CEN'IRE v. U.0.I. 629

(a) maintain and keep maintaining the h~alth record of every A
worker up to a minimum period of 40 years from the beginning of the
employment or 15 years after retirement or cessation of the employment,
whichever was later: [663-G]
- (b) adopt the "Membrane Filter test" to detect asbestos fibre at par
with the Metalliferrous Mines Regulations, 1961 and the Vienna Conven· B
tion: [663-Hl

(c) compulsorily insure health coverage to every worker. [664-A]

The Union and the state governments are directed to :
c
(i) review the standards of permissible exposure limit .value of
fibre/cc in tune with the international standards reducing the permissible
content. Review after every 10 year!\ and also as and when the I.L.O. gives
direction in that behalf consistent with its recommendations or any Con·
ventions : [664-B]
D
(ii) Consider inclusion of those small scale factories or industries
engaged in the manufacture of asbestos or its· ancillary products. [664-C]

The Inspector of Factories of the State of Gujarat shall send all the
workers, examined by the concerned ESI hospital, for re-examination by E
the National Institute of Occupational Health to detect whether all or any
of them suffer from asbestosis. In case of a positive finding each such
worker would be entitled to compensation in a sum of Rs. One lakh payable
by the concerned factory or industry or establishment within a period of
three months from the date of certification by the National Institute of
Occupational Health. [664-D] F
Blannie S. Wilson v. Johns Manville Sales Corporation Ltd, 684
Federal 2nd 111 (1982); William T; Urie v. Guy A. Thompson, 93 L. Ed. 337
US 163; Olga Tellis v. Bombay Municipal Corporation, [1985] 3 SCC 545;
State of H.P. v. Urned Ram Sharma, [1986] 2 SCC 68; Sunil Batra v. Delhi
Administration, [1978) 4 SCC 494; Board of Trustees of the Port of Bombay G
v. D.R. Nadkami, [1983) 1SCC124; Vikram Deo Singh Tomar v. State of
Bihar, [19881 Suppl. SCC 734; R. Autyanuprasi v. Union of India, [1989] 1 .
Suppl. SCC 251; Charles Sobraj v. Supdt. Cen(ral Jai4 Tihar, A.I.R. (1978)
...
SC 1514; Bandhua Mukti Morcha v. Union of India, [1984] 3 SCC 161;
C.E.S.C. Ltd. and Ors. v. Subhash Chandra Bose, [1992] 1 SCC 441; Khatri H
630 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1995) 1 S.C.R.

A (JI) v. State <Jf Bihm; (1981] 1 SCC 627; Maharashtra Stat.e B.O.S. dnd H.S.
Education v. KS. Gandhi, (1991] 2 SCC .716; Unni Klishnan v. State of A.P.,
[1993] 1 SCC 645; M.C. Mehta v. Union of Jn(iia, [1987) 4 SCC 463; J't.
Pannanand Kotara v•. Union of India, [1989) 4 SCC 286; National Textile
Workers' Union v. P.R. Ramakrishnan, [1983] 1 SCR 922; Workmen of
B Meenakshi Mills Ltd. v. Meenakshi Mills Ltd., [1992) 3 SCC 336; Rudul Sah ·
v: State of Bihar, [1983) 3 SCR Sp8 and Nilabati Behera v. State of Orissa,
[1993] 2 sec; 746, relied on.

CIVIL ORIGINAL JURISDICTION : Writ Petition {C) No. 206 of
1986. .
c {Under Article 32 of the ~onstitution of India) .
. I
. I .
R.N. Sachthey, N.N. Goswami, R. Ramachandran, Joseph Pookkat,
P.H. Parekh, Ms. Prerna Kohli, S. Kachwaha, S. Sukumaran, D.N. Mishra,
R·avindra Narain, for JBD & Co., Wasim A. Qadri, C.V.S. Rao, S.K.
D Sabharwal, Krishna Kumar, Vinod Kumar, Ms. Poonam Madan, for
.Kh;aitan & Co., A.S. Bhasme, K. Ram Kumar, G. Prabh~ar, G. Prakash,
(N.P.), B.K. Prasad, Rakesh Upadhyay, S.N. Terdal, Indu Malhotra, {N.P.),
R. Sasiprabhu, M.:Verrappa, (N.P.) and S.K. Agnihotri, (N.P.) for the
appearing parties.
E The Judgment of the Court was delivered by

· K. ~WAMY, J. Occupational accidents and diseases remain
the, most appalling)iuman tragedy of modern industry and one of its most
,~e.r,ious forms of economic waste. Occupational health hazards and diseases
. p to the workmen employed in asbestos industries are of our concern in this
writ petition filed under Article 32 of the Constitution by way of public
interest limigation at the behest of the petitioner, an accredited organisa-
, tion. At the inception of filing the writ petition in the year 1986, though it
·highlighted the lacuna In diverse provisions of law applicable to the asbes-
tos industry, due to orders of this Court passed from time to time, though
'· .G •1wide gaps have been bridged by subordinate legislation,. yet lot more need
,··to be done~ So.the.petitiqner seeks to fill in·the yearning gap!? and remedial
measures for the protection of the health of the workers engaged in mines
·. and' asbestos industries with adequate mechanism ,for and diagnosi_~ and
; control of the. silent killer disease "asbestosis", with amended prayers as ,,
H under:-
CONSUMER EDUCATION CENTREv. U.O.I. (K. RAMASWAMY, J.) 631

(a) Directions to all the i~dustries and the official- respondents to A
maintain compulsority and keep preserved health records of each
workman for a period of 40 years from the date of beginning of
the employment or 10 years after the cessation of the employment,
whichever is later;

(b) To diredt all the factories to adopt "THE MEMBRANE B
FILTER TEST";
<
(c) To direct all industries to complusorily insure the employe~s
working in their respective industries, excluding those already
covered by the Employees State Insurance Act and the Workmen C
Compensation Act so as to entitle the workmen to get adequate
compensation for occupational hazards or diseases or death;

(d) To direct the authorities to appoint a committee of experts to
determine the standard of permissible exposure limit value of 2
fibre/cc and to reduce to 1-fibre/cc for Chrystolite type of asbestos, D
0.5-fibere/cc for Amosite type of asbestos and for the time being
0.2-fibre/cc for Crocidolite type of asbestos at par with the inter-
national standards :

(e) To direct the appropriate Governments to cover the workmen
and to extend them Factories Act or by suitable regulatory E
provisions contained therein to all small scale sectors which are
not covered under the Factories Act;

(t) .To direct re-examination of such of those persons who are
found suffering from Asbestosis by National Institute of Occupa-
tional Health but not the E.S.I. hospitals; and in particular the F
Inspector of factories, Gujarat, be direC:ted to have re-examined
all those workmen, examined by E.S.I. by N.G.D.H. and to award
compensation; and

(g) To direct the Central Government to appoint a committee to G
recommend whether dry process can be completely replaced by.
wet process.

It would appear from the record that in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh
and Rajasthan, there exists about thirty mines and the workmen employed
therein are about 1061. There are about 74. asbestos industries in nine H
-~·

632 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (1995] 1 S.C.R.

A States, namely, Haryana, Delhi, Andhra Pradesh, Karn?taka, Rajasthan,
Maharashtra, Kerala, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. It would also appear
that as on August 1986 there are about 11,000 workmen employed in those
industries. Basing on Biswas Committee report, the petitioner filed the writ
pitition. The Central GoVt. accepting the said report, fratl].ed model Rule
B 123A of Factories Act and on its model relevant laws and Rules were
amended and are now brought into force. We are not referring to the
findings .and recommendations of Biswas Committee as the "Asbestos
Convention, 1986" covered the whole ground.

In Convention 162 of the International Labour Conference (ILC)
C held in June, 1986, it had adopted on 24th June; 1986 the Convention called
"the Asbestos Convention, 1986". India is one of the signatories to the
Convention and it played a commendable role suggesting suitable amend-
ments in the preparatory conferences. It has come into force from June 16,
1989, af~er its ratification by the Member-States. Article 2(a) defines
D "asbestos" to mean the fibrous form of mineral silicates belonging to
rock-forming minerals oft.he serpentine group, i.e. chrysotile (white asbes-
tos), and of the amphibole group, i.e. actitiolite, amosite (brown asbestos,
cummingtonite-grunerite), anthophyllite,' crocidolite (blue asbestos),
tremolite, or· any mixture containing one or more of these." "Asbestos dust"
is defined as "airborne particles of asbestos or settled particles of asbestos"
E which may become airborne in the working environment "Respirable as-
bestos fibre" is defined as a particle of asbestos with a diameter of less than
' .
3 um and of which the length is at least three times the diameter; "Workers" ·
cover all employed persons; 'Workplace" covers all places where workers.
need to be or need to go.by reason of their work and which are under the
F direct ot indirect control of the employer;

Article 5(2) provides that "National laws or regulations shall provide
fcir the necessary measures,· including appropriate penalties, to ensure
effective enforcement of and compliance with the provisions of the Con-
vention.". Article 8 provides that "employers and workers or their repre-
G sentatives shall co-operate as closely as possible at all levels in the
undertaking in the application of the measures prescribed pursuant to this
Convention". Article 9 in Part III prescribes Protective and Preventive
Measures,·regulating that the national laws or regulations shall provide that
exposure to .asbestos shall be prevented or controlled by one.•or more of
H the following measures - (a) making work in which exposure to asbestos
. CONSUMEREDUCATIONCENIREv. U.O.I.lK.RAMASWAMY,J.] 633

• <.
\ .
may occur subject to regulations prescribing adequate engineering controls A
and work practi~es, including workplace hygiene; (b) prescribing special
rules and procedures including auihorisation, for the use of asbestos or of
certain types of asbestos or products containing asbestos or for certain
work processes." Article 15 postulates that (1) 'the competent authority
shall prescribe limits for the exposure of workers to- asbestos or other B
exposure criteria for the evaluation of the working environment, (2) the
exposure limits or other exposure criteria shall be fixed and periodically
reviewed and updated in the light of technologicai progress and advances in
technological and sdentific knowledge; (emphasis supplied), (3) in all
workplaces where workers are exposed to a5bestos, the employer shall take
all appropriate measures to prevent or control the release of asbestos dust C
into the air, to ensure that the exposure limits or other ~xposlire criteria
are complied with and also to reduce exposure to as low a level as is
reasonably practicable.' Clause (4) provides that on its failure to Carry out
the above direction to the industry to maintain. and replace, as necessary;
at no cost to the workers, adequate respiratory protective equipment and D
special protective clothing as appropriate. Respiratory protective equip-
ment should comply with standards set by the competent authority and be :
used only as a· supplementary, temporary, emergency or exceptional
measure and not as an alternative to technical control. .

'Article 16 mandates, that 'each employer shall be made responsible E
for the establishment and implementation of practical measu~es for the
prevention and control of the exposure of the workers he employs to asbestos
and for their protection against the hazards due to asbestos." (emphasis
supplied). Article 17 provides demolition of plaD.ts or structures containing
~·
friable asbestos' insulation etc,, 'the details whereof are not necessary.
I Article 18 obligates the employer. to provide clothing to the workers, F
maintenance, handliog and cleaning the.reef etc. etc. Article 19 deals with
the disposal of the waste containing asbestos. Part IV ~onsisting of Articles
20 and 21, deals with surveillance of the working environment and workers'.
health.' Article 20 (1) provides ihat "where it is necessary for the protection
of the health of workers, the employer shall measure the concentrations of G
'airborne asbestos dust in workplaces, and shall monitor the exposure of
•• workers .lo asbestos at intervals and using methods specified by the com·
petent authority." Sub'Article (2) of Article 20 envisages maintenance of
the records :· 'the records of the monitoring of the working environment
H
•
634 SUPREME COURT REPORTS .[1995] 1 S.C.R.

A and of thi. exposure of workers to asbestos.shall be kept f of a .period prescribed
.
by the competent authority" (emphasis supplied). Clause (3) - "the workers •
concerned, -their representatives and the inspection services shall 1iave
access to these records." Clause (4) - "the workers or their representatives ,_
shall have the right to request the monitoring of the working environment
and to appeal to the competent authority concerning the results of the
B
monitoring.". Articie 21(1) envisages that "workers who are or have been
exposed to asbestos shall be provided, in accordance with national law and
.Practice, with such medical examinations as are necessary to supervise their --')
health in relation to the occupational hazard, and to diagnose occupational
diseases caused by exposure to asbestos". Clause (2) adumbrates that such
c monitoring shall be free of the charge of the workers and shall take place.
as far as possible .durmg the working hours. Clause (3) accords to the
workers of the right to information, in that behalf, of the results of their
medical examination (emphasis supplied) "shall be informed in an adequate
and appropriate manner of the results of their medical examinations and
D receive individual advice 'concerning their health in relation to their work. -\
Clause (4) is not material for the purpose of this case, hence omitted.
Clause (5) postulates that ·the competent authority shall develop a system
of notification of occup~tional diseases calls'ed by asbestos. ' -.

Article 22, in Part V, relating to information and education is .not
E relevant for the purpose of this case, hence omitted. in Part VI-Final
Provisions, Article 24 ill relevant for .the purpose of this case and Clause
(1) thereof states .that "this Convention shall be binding 'only upon those
Members of the International Labou,r Organisation whose ratifications
have been registered with the Director-General". The other Articles 23, 25
F to 30 are not relevant.

International Labour Office, Geneva, has provided the Rules regard-
ing "safety in the use of asbestos". In Rule 1.1.2. (Possible health conse-
quences of exposure to asbestos dust), it is stated that there are three main ~
health consequences associated with exposure to airborne asbestos - (a)
:a asbestosis : fibrosis (thickening'and scarring) of the lung tissue; (b) lung ~ '
cancer : Cancer of the bronchial tubes; '(c) mesothelioma : cancer of the ·
pleura or peritoneum.. In asbestos workers, other consequences of asbestos
exposure can be the development of diffuse pleural thickening and cir-
·cumscribed pleural plaques which may become calcified. These are
H regarded as no more than evidence of exposure to asbestos dust. Other
CONSUMEREDUCATIONCENTREv. U.0.1. [K.RAMASWAMY,J.J 635 l

types of cancer (e.g. of the gastro-intestinal tract) have been. attributed to A .
asbestos exposure though the evidence at present is inconclusive. In Rule /
1.3, definitions of asbestos, asbestos dust, respirable asbestos fibre· have
bben defined thus :- .

(a) asbestos is defined as the bibrous form of mineral silicates
belonging to the serpentine and amphibole groups of rock-forming B
minerals, including : actinolite, amosite (brown asbestos, cum-
mingtonite, grunnerite), anthophyllite, chrysotile (white asbestos),
crocidolite (blue asbestos), tremolite, or any mixture containing
one or more of these;

(b) asbestos dust is defined as airborne particles of asbestos or
c
settled particles of asbestos which may become airborne in the
working environment;

( c) respirable asbestos fibre is defined as a particle of asbestos with
a diameter of less than 3 um and of which the length is at least D
three times the diameter;

In Chapter 3, Exposure limits have been defined thus:-

3.1.1. - The concentrations of airborne asbestos in the working
environment should not exceed the exposure limits approved by E
the competent authority after consultation with recognised scien-
tific bodies and with the most representative organisations of the
employers and workers concerned.

3.1.2. - The aim of such exposure limits should be to eliminate or
fo reduce, as far as practicable, hazards to the health of workers F
exposed to airborne asbestos fibres.

3.1.3. - The exposure level of airborne asbestos in the working
environment should be established by: (a) by legislation: or (b) by
collective agreement or by any other agreements drawn up between G
1 employers and workers; or (c) by any other channel approved by
the competent authority after consultation with the _most repre-
sentative employers' and workers' organisations.

3.1.4. - it provides periodical review in the light of technological
progress and advances in technical and medical knowledge con- H
_/
636 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1995) 1 S.C.R.

A cerning the _health hazards associated with exposure to asbestos
dust and particularly in the light of results of workplace monitoring.

In Chapter 4, under Monitoring in. the workplace, Rule 4.4.4 is
relevant for the purpose of this case which adumbrates that the measures
of airborne asbestos fibres concentrations in fibres per millilitre in the
B workplace air should be made by the membrane filter method using phase
contrast microscopy as described in Appendix B of the Rules. All
respirable fibres over 5 um in length should be counted by this method.
-:>;.·
Rule 4.4.5 provides that the measurement of airborne dust concentrations
(mg/m3) in the workplace air should be made by gravimetric method as
C described in Appendix C to the Rules. The mass of the collected total dust
should be determined and, by analysis, the type of asbestos and its mass
percentage.

Rule 4.5 - Monitoring Strategy, and Rule 4.6-Record keeping, have
been adumbrated as under :-
D
4.6.1. - Record should be kept by the employer on aspects of
asbestos dust exposure. Such records should be clearly marked by
date, work area and plant location etc. etc.

In General preventive methods, in Chapter V. Rule 5.2.1. - All ap-
E propriate and practicable measures of engineering, work practice and
administrative control should be taken to eliminate or to reduce the
exposure of workers to asbestos dust in the working environment to the
·lowest possible level. Rule 5.2.2. provides that "engineering controls should
include mechanical handling, ventilation and redesign of the process to
F eliminate, contain or collect asbestos dust emissions by such means as - (a)
process separation, automation or enclosure; (b) bonding asbestos fipres
with other materials to preveni. dust generation; (c) general ventilation of
the working areas with clean air, etc. etc.

Chapter VI deals with personal protection of the respiratory equip-
·G ment etc., the details whereof are not necessary. Chapter VII deals with
the cleaning of the premises of the plant. Detailed instructions as to the
manner in which work pre.u.1ises are maintained in a clean state, free of
asbestos waste,· have been provided and)t is not necessary to enumerate
all the details. Suffice it to saythat every iJdustry shall scrupulously adhere
H to the instructions contained in Chapter VII a,nd IX. Chapter X deals with
CONSUMER EDUCATION CENrRE v. U.0.I. [K. RAMASWAMY, J.) 1 637

with the supervision of the health of wor~ers. A
-"·
Part B deals with control of asbestos exposure in specific activiti~s,
min~g and milling, asbestos cement, Textiles. In Chapter 15, Encapsula-
tion or removal of friable thermal and acoustic insulation provides the
procedure for repairs or removal of asbestos insulations. In Rule 15.10, dry
stripping and Rule 15.10.1. provides that dry stripping is associated with B
very high levels of asbestos dust which should, therefore, be used only (a)
where wet methods cannot be used; (b) where live electrical apparatus
might be made dangerous by contact with water; ( c) where hot metal is to
be stripped and the use of water may be damaging. Rule 15.10.2 provides
that where dry stripping is employed, as effective a standard of separation C
as possible should be preserved between the work site and the adjacent
areas to prevent the escape of asbestos dust. Rule 15.10.3 envisages that
all workers within the separated area should be provided with, and should
use, suitable respiratory equipment and protective clothing. All other ·
guidelines are not necessary, hence omitted. In Rule 15.11, wet stripping
provides procedure thus :- D
"15.11.1. Areas in which wet stripping.is being carried out should
be separated from other work areas.

· 15.11.2. All workers within the separated area should use suitable E
respiratory protective equipment and p~otective clothing.

15.11.3. Electrical equipment in the area should be isolated from
the entry of water.·

15.11.4. At the end of the work a competent person should ensure
that it is safe for the electrical 'supply to be restored.

15.11.5. Before removal is started, care should be taken that the
asbestos material is saturated with water. This may be made easier
by the addition of a water-wetting agent.

15.11.6. (1) Where cladding has to be removed, it should first, G
where practicable, be punctured and the asbestos containing
material within the cladding should be thoroughly wetted.

(2) The cladding should then be removed carefully within the
enclosure and all surfaces should be vacumed or sprayed with H
638 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (1995) 1 S.C.R.

A water.

15.11.7. The water-saturated material should be removed in small
sections and placed immediately in labelled containers which
sh-0uld then be sealed.

B 15.11.8. Any slurry produced should be contained and not dis-
charged into drains without adequate filtration, etc. etc.

.Rule 15.12 provides stripping by high-pressure water jets - the details ..-.
whereof are not materiai but suffice it to emphasise that specialised method
should be carried out only by trained personnel and all precautions
C relevant to the operation should be taken. Special safety precautions, \
.including those given in this section of Code, are required, since they are
very high~pressure spraying or dangerous, displaying at the prop°er place in
addition to other stripping warning notices. Other guidelines are not
relevant for the purpose of this case but suffice to state that every industry
D ·should adopt, adhere to and strictly follow the Rules provided for the safety .-
in the use of asbestos. . -~

In the "Encylopaedia of Occupational Health and Safety", Vol-I,
published by International Labour Office, Geneva, the latest 4th Edition,
E 1991, provides definition, of asbestos as has been found hereinbefore and
therefore, it is not necessary to its reiteration. Its Pathology has been stated
. at page 188 in Vol-I, which is as follows :-

"The retained fibres in the alveolar region are 3 um or less in
diameter but may be up to 200 um long. Animal experiments
strongly point to the longer fibres, 5 urnand over, as being much
more fibrogenic than shorter fibres. A proportion of the longer
fibres, especially amphiboles, become coated with an il-on protein
complex producing the drumstick appearance of asbestos bodif'.S.
All typeF of asbestos cause similar fibrosis. The fibrosis starts in
the respiratory _bronchioles with collections of maci:ophatges con~
G faining fibres, and others· lying free. These deposits organise,
collagen replacing the initial reticulin web. Initially only a few
respiratory bronchioles are affected, but the fibrosis spr~ads·
centrally to the terminal bronchfoles and peripherally to the acinus.
The areas increase in size and coalesce causing diffuse interstitial
H fibrosis with shrinkage. The process starts in the bases spreading
CONSUMER EDUCATION CENTREv. U.O.I. [K. RAMASWAMY, J.) 639

upwards as the ~isease progresses; in advanced disease the whole A
lung structure is distorted and replaced by dense fibrosis, cysts,
and some areas of emphysema.

The pleura, both visceral and parietal surfaces, are affected by
the fibrosis and to a degree which is much greater than in other
types of pneumoconiosis. The visceral surface may be sclerosed up B
to 1 cm thick. In the parietal pleura thickening starts as a basket-
weave pattern of fibroblasts, the sheets of fibrosis lying along the
line of the ribs especially in the lower thorax and posteriorly. The
edges become rolled and crenated and, after many years, calcified.

The parietal thickening may be extensive and thick with little
c
or no parenchymal fibrosis. The reasons for this are not fully
understood but indicate the need to separate, if possible, parietal
and visceral pleural thickening in life.

> Diagnosis and types : D
j/

Table 1 lists the types of fibrosis in the lung caused by asbestos
that can be partially or well separated clinically. Recent
epidemiological research indicates that asbestosis and pleural pla-
que may have differing aetiologies, natural histories, and sig-
nificance in terms of morbidity and mortality. E
Table 1. Types of lung fibrosis caused by asbestos

,t Parenchymal
Pleural:
Visceral: Acute Asbestosis F
Chronic
Parietal: Hyaline Pleural plaques
Calcified

The Aspestosis has been signified at page 188 which is as follows :
.... G
Asbestosis - The signs and symptoms of asbestosis are similar to
those caused by other diffuse interstitial fibroses of the lung.
Increased breathlessness on exertion is usually the first symptom,
sometimes associated with aching or transient sh~rp pains; in the
chest. A cough is not usually present except in the late stages when H
640 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1995) 1 S.C.R.

A distressing paroxysms occur. Increased sputum is not present un-
less there is bronchitis, the r~sult of· smoking. The onset of
symptoms (except following very heavy exposure) is usually slow
and the ·subject may have forgotten having any contact with asbes-
tos; Persistent dull- chest pain, and haemoptysis indicate the need ·
to investigate further the diagnosis of bronchial or mesothelial
B cancer..

The most important physical sign is the presence of high-
pitched fine crepitations (crackles) at full inspiration and persisting
after coughing. They occur initially in the lower axillae and ~xtend
c more widely later. Agreement between skilled observers on detect-
ing this sign is good· but it may vary_from day to day in the early
stages. It may also be present as an isofated sign in 2-3% of
otherwise normal indiViduals. There ·are now means of recording
this sign on tape. Other sounds - wheezes and rhonchi - are of no
help in diagnosis, but indicate as_sociated bronchitis. Clubbing of
D the fingers and toes was formerly regarded as an important physi: · -"
cal sign. There is an impression that it is now less frequently seen.
Its severity does not relate well to other aspects of the diagnosis.
There is poor agreement between observers except \\'.hen the
clubbing is very pronounced. It is possible that its presence relates
E to the rapidity of progression of the disease.

1

The chest radiograph remains the most important single piece
of evidence, even though the appearances are similar to other types
of interstitial fibrosis. When the radiography is classified by three
F or more skilled readers using the ILO 1971 scheme independently,
it is found that virtually all cases of asbestosis are picked up by
one or more of the readers as Category 1/0 or above. The
radiographic appearances are we,11 illustrated in tlie set of standard
films of the ILO 1980 Classification of the radiographic appearan-
ces of the pneumoconioses (see PHEUMOCONIOSES, INTER-
G NATIONAL CLASSIFICATION OF). The classification provides
a means of recording the continuum from normality to the most.
advanced stages on a 12- point scale of severity (profusion) and of
extent (zones) affected. The earliest changes usually occur at the
bases with the appearance of small irregular· (linear) opacities
H superimposed on the normal branching architecfure of the lung.
CONSUMER EDUCATION CENIRE v. U.0.1. [K. RAMASWAMY, J.) 641

As the disease advances the extent increases and the profusi.on of A
irregular opacities progressively obscures the normal structures.
Shrinkage of the lung occurs, with elevation of the diaphragm. In
advanced cases distortion of the lung with cysts (honeycomb lung)
and bullae occur. The hilar glands are not enlarged or calcified
unless exposure has been to mixtures of silicious dusts. This may
B
occur, for example, in malting asbestos roofing shingles or pressure
pipes, and in mining. The small opacities may then be rounded
rather than irregular.

The pattern of lung function provides the important third
component in diagnosis. The functional changes are the result of C
a shrunken and non-homogeneous lung, without obstruction of the
larger airways (restrictive syndrome). The total' lung volume is
reduced and especially the forced vital capacity (FVC), but the
ventilatory capacity (FEVl.O) is only reduced in proportion to the
)• FVC, so the ratio FEV 1.0/FVC is normal or even raised. The D
,/ transfer factor for carbon monoxide is reduced in later stages, but
in the early stage an increase of ventilation on a standard exercise
test may be the only alteration indicating impairment of gas ex-
change. Although the restrictive syndrome is the commonest pat-
tern (about 40%) in about 10% of cases airway obstruction is the
main feature and in the remainder a mixed pattern is seen. This E
is though to be largely due to the confounding effects of cigarette
smoking.

Visceral pleurisy : chronic and acute - This occurs in two forms -
chronic and acute. The former is the commoner and is a usual F
accompaniment of parenchymal disease, but its severity does not
run parallel with the parenchymal disease. The diagnosis is
radiographic. In some cases one or both of the costophrenic angles
are filled in but the more specific feature is the appearance of well
defined shadow running parallel to the line of the lateral chest wall
and separated from it by a narrow (1-2 mm) clear zone. This is G
due to the thickened pleura seen "~dge on". It is illustrated in the·
l~O 1980 standard set of films. The thickening is best seen in the
middle. and lower third of the lateral chest wall, the apices are
usually spared. It is common in those only lightly exposed to find
this pleural thickening as the only radiographic feature. It is readily H
642 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1995] 1 S.C.R._

A missed when present only over a short length of the wall and if the
radiographic technique does not give a clear picture of the
periphery of the lung. When the visceral pleura is greatly thickened
it causes veiling of the lung field, obscuring both the normal
structure and parenchymal changes. This probably the basis of the
"shaggy heart" and the "ground glass" appearance described in the .
B . early accounts of asbestosis. The wide recognition that small areas
of pleural thickening may be the only sign of past exposure to
asbestos is recent, and it seems to be a feature of the effects of
low exposure to the dust. It is likely to remain an important
observation for monitoring exposure to improved conditions in the
c future.

Acute pleurisy affecting the bases, and costophrenic angles,
with effusions, sometimes blood-stained, is now a recognised se-
quel to asbestos dust exposure. It is associated with pain, fever,
leucocytosis and a raised blood sedimentation rate. It settles in a
D few weeks but leaves the costophrenic angles obscured. No
precipitating factors have been identified. Its recognition is impor-
tant. Firstly, the cause may be missed unless and adeq~te occupa-
tional history is taken; secondlY. not all effusions in asbestos
workers signify the onset of an asbestos-related cancer. A few
E weeks of observation may be necessary to confim the aetiology.

Summary of diagnosis - The diagnosis of asbestosis therefore
depends upon -

(a) a history of significant.exposure to asbestos dust rarely starting
F less than 10 years before examination :

(b) radiological feature~ consistent with basel fibrosis (Category
1/0 and over, ILO 1980);

(c) characteristic bilateral crepitations; .
G
(d) lung function changes consistent with at least some features of
the restrictive syndrome.

Not all the criteria need to be met in all cases but (a) is essential,
(b) should be given greater weight than (c) or (d); however,
H occasionally (c) may be sole sign. Other investigations are not of
CONSUMER EDUCATION CENfREv. U.0.1. [K. RAMASWAMY, J.] · 641

much help. Asbestos bodies in the sputum ~dicate past exposure A
to asbestos but are not diagnostic of asbestosis. Their absence
when there is much sputum and marked radiologic~t changes of
fibrosis suggest an alternative cause for the fibrosis.

Immunological tests may be positive but do not help in consisc
tent separation of asbestosis from other types of fibrosis. Lung B
function results must be assessed in relation to appropriate stand-
.. ards allowing for ethnic, sex and age differences and for cigarette
smoking.

Asbestos corns on the fingers - area of thickening skin sur-
rounding implanted fibres - are now much less common because
c
much of the asbestos fibre is packed mechanically and gloves are
worn. Corns do not lead to skin tumors and disappear on removal
of the fibres.

> Pleural plaques and sources of exposure to asbestos have been stated D
.J
at page 189-191 thus :-

Pleural plaques - Parietal pleural plaques alone rarely cause
symptoms. They may occur alone or~th asbestosis. The diagnosis
in life in radiological and the appearan~~.'are more specific than
in the case of parenchymal fibrosis'. PA films will detect most cases, E
but because they are frequently thickest posteriorly their full extent
is best seen using oblique views. The ILO 1980 standard films show
~)·
their appearance and the scheme provides, for the first time, a
. separation of parietal (circumscribed) and visceral (diffuse)
pleural thickening. The plaques lie along the line of the ribs, and F
when thick cast a well defined shadow over the lung field extending
.in from the lateral chest wall, where they may also be seen "edge
on".

Separation from visceral thickening depends largely on a
_,,,, defined edge to the shadow. Both types may occur together. G
Dependent mostly on the length of time since first exposure, and
age, patchy calcification occurs in the edges. This produces a
.bizarre pattern of dense shadows likened to "gluttering candle wax''
or a " holly leaf'. The onset of calcification reveals many small
plaques not previously visible. Wh~n calcification occurs in a H
644 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1995] 1 S.C.R.

A crat~r-shaped plaque on the <lorn~ of the diaphragm. a diagDosis
of past exposure to asbestos or related minerals can be made With
confidence. .

Sources of exposure to asbestos - Formerly it was though easy·to
establish past exposure to asbestos by inquiry about work in
B manufacturing plants, or the application of the fibre for insulation.
Now it is realised that only the most detailed history of all jobs,
residences and occupations of the family will reveal possible ex-
posures to asbestos. The reasons for this change are -

c (a) the much wider use of asbestos in thousands of products
especially since the Second World War (see ASBESTOS) :

(b) the recognition· that significant exposure to asbestos occurred
around mines and manufacturing plants in the past;

D ( c) the discovery of family exposure to the dust brought home on
clothing, and also that those working in an area where lagging is
in progress may be affected, even though they are engaged in
lagging;

( d) the finding that calcified pleural plaques, indistinguishable
E from those occupationally exposed, also occur in the. general
population in localised areas in several countries (Finland,
Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria, Turkey and others).

With the discovery of such diversity of sources of possible
F exposure, but virtually no quantitative information about its
severity, and few long-term follow-up studies of those exposed, it
is hot surprised that there is controversy about the health hazards.
However, some conclusions emerge which must be subject to
revision in the future.

G (1) Asbestosis is primarily occupational in origin, the result of
.,_
mining, milling, manufacturing, applying, removing or transportit;1.g .
asbestos fibre. Exposure is much less when the fibre is bound in· ,._
the product (asbestos cement and asbestos plastic and paper
product). Also exposure in the past was much greater than it is
H today wi,th the 11~e of the best working practices.
CONSUMER EDUCATION CENIREv. U.O.I. [K. RAMASWAMY, J.] 645

(2) Asbestosis may havi:: been caused by home exposure from A
dusty clothing at a time when there was no dust or hygiene control
in the factories.

(3) · Asb~stosis does not result from the very limited exposure
to which the general public is or has been subject, even though
asbestos fibres are detectable in the lungs of a high proportion of B
adults in industrialized areas. The median numbers of fibres so
detectable are two to three order of magnitude less than that found
+
in those occupationally exposed.

(4) There are and have been important differences between
countries in the use of asbestos, so that exposure for the same
c
occupation varies widely. For example, dry wall fillers (sparkling)
contain asbestos in the United States but not the United Kingdom;
thus sanding of internal walls during construction and maintenance
is a source of exposure in the former but not in the latter. On the
> other hand, spraying of crocidolite was much more widespread in D
.J
the 1940s in the United Kingdom that elsewhere.

(5) Pleural plaques can arise at levels of exposure probably
much lower that required to produce asbestosis. In addition it is
probable that other minerals can cause plaques. For example,
E
among chryosotile miners in Quebec calcified plaques are limited
to those who have worked in two out of the eight mines. The
minerals causing the plaques in general population have not been
fully established. Tremolite, an amphibole often present in deposits
... -<!
of asbestos, may be important.
F
(6) Whether chrysotiie and the amphiboles differ in
fibrogenicity in man is uncertain, but some evidence indicates that
the amphiboles may be more fibrogenic~ In animals· there is little
difference but the amphiboles remain in the lung much longer than
the chrysotile.
G
-'o'
.The relation of asbestosis to dose of dust - In only a few instances
are. there records of past dust sampling to relate to the prevalence
er incidense of asbestosis. But the information has been exhaus-
tively &ll~iysed for miners and millers in Quebec, a group of
.. asbestos cement workers in the United States and asbestos textile H
.. \
646 SUPREME COURT REPORTS . [1995] 1 S.C.R,,

A workers in th.e Unit~d Kingdom, beca~se of its releyance t6is~ttipg
hygiene standars. In North America the dust was measured in
millions of particles/ft3, in the United Kingdom in fibres/cm3 - tlie
measurement now internationally used. All the data show a clear
relation between estimated dose of dust (concentration x time of
exposure) and the incidence or severity of disease, but are insuf-
B ficiently precise to determine whether there is thre~hold · level
below which asbestosis will not occur. A cautious conclusion from
the Nort_h American studies is· that at about 100 million par-
ticles/ft3/yr there might be a threshold or that the risk of developing
. asbestosis would be as low as 1% of men after 4o years' exposure
c could be as high as 1.1 fibreskm3 or may have to be as low as 0.3
fibres/cm3". More precise information will only become. available
when the dust sampling introduced widely after the mid- 1960s is
related to the incidence of disease in the future.

The relation of asbestosis to lung cancet - The _important questions
D here are : firstly, is there an excess risk of brqnchial cancer only
-in those who also have some degree of asbestosis? Secondly, if the
dust· exposures are low enough to eliminate asbestosis, will the
excess lung cancer risk also be reduced to an acceptably low level?
Neither question can be answered at preseht, and so disagreement
E is likely. It is known that there is a close association between
asbestosis and lung cancer, about 50% of those dying from or with
asbestosis have a lung cancer at post mortem. Among th0se
knowledgeable about details of the dose-response data there ..yould

F
probably be agreement that dust exposures low enough to
eliminate asbestosis will also reduce the excess bronchial cancer
::-isk to a very low value. This does not extend to the risk te a very
...
iow value. This nearly so closely related to that of asbestosis (see
ASBESTOS MESOTHELIMO AND LUNG CANCER).

PREVENTION.:
G This depends on successful control of dust exposure ;µid me9ical .
surveillance to protect the individual, as far as is possible; and.f6r
the detection of health trends in the group.· · J ·/

Engineering control - Replacement of asbestos by other material
H believed- to be safer has been widespread since the mid-1970s.
CONSUMER EDUCATION CENTREv. U.O.I. [K RAMASWAMY, J.] 647

Ill Man-ma~e mineral fibres and other insulating materials are rapidly , A
..... replacing asbestos for heat insulation. But for other uses, for
example, ast>estos cement, friction material and some felts and
gaskets, substitution is not at present practicable.

Dust control has been gradually improved by partial or com-
plete enclosure of plants and the wide use of well designed local
B
exhaust ventilation. In the textile section a completely new wet
,,_ process of forming the thread has greatly reduced dust level,
previously difficult to control. During maintenance .work on old
insulation much stricter control of exposures is possible by isolation
of the working areas, and by training in the use of good working c
practices to reduce the dust, for example damping of the insulation
before removal, and the use of vacuum cleaning in place of sweep-
ing. But removal of old insulation is likely to remain for many years
a major potential sources of high exposure (see also DUST CON-
TROL INDUSTRIAL).
> D
,/..
Medical surveillance - The insidious onset of asbestosis and the lack
of highly specific features indicate the need for well recorded and
systematic, initial, and periodic examinations of asbestos workers.
This ensures the best chance of detecting the earliest signs. Physi-
cal examination of the chest, full-sized, high technical quality those E
rediographs and test of FVC and FEV 1/0 are the minimum
required. The interval will very from annually up to four times
yearly, with more frequent visits when there are clinical reasons.
_,,> There is increasing evidence that the radiological features of as-
I
bestosis are in part. cigarette-smoking dependent which requires F
the recording of smoking histories. This and the multiplicative
effects of asbestos dust and cigarette .smoking on the risk of
bronchial cancer provide the strongest possible grounds for stop-
ping cigarette smoking in those potentially exposed to asbestos.
Personal advice on the special dangers of smoking and limiting
_. opportunities for smoking at work are essential steps in prevention. G
Full personal protective equipment will be required where dust
levels cannot be lowered to the hygiene standard. The system of
. periodic examinations also provides, if properly analysed, essential
information about the effectiveness or failure of the .engineering
control of the dust, Tabulation, by age and years of ~.;vosure, of H
648 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (1995) 1 S.C.R.

A the results of classifying the chest films on the ILO 1980 scheme-
preferably by independent read~rs - gives early evidence of tre~ds -
in the prevalence of asbestosis. This valuable information will be
missed.if the group findings are not examined in detail.·

Treatment :-
.B
There is no specific treatment for ·asbestosis. Where the rate of
progression appears unusually rapid further special investigations,
includillg lurig biopsy, may be justified if it is likely to assist in the
differential diagnosis, and influence treatment - for example the
. use of steriods, but these are not of proved value. The severity of
c past exposure is the only factor known to influence progression
rate. Thus, those with some evidence of asbestosis, if young or
middle-aged, should be removed from further exposure. In cases
where exposure has not been heavy and asbestosis is only detected
late in life, progression may be very slow and the grounds for
D removal from work with asbestos, under good conditions, are less
compelling.

The widespread and often misleading publicity given to the
hazards of exposure to asbestos may cause much anxiety to those
with asbestosis, both for their own health and for that of their
E
family. Reassurance, and the putting of the likely prognosis in true
perspecitve, are an important part of good treatment. The special
risks of continuing cigarette smoking need emphasis.
Mesotheliomas are a rare complication in those exposed only to
chrysotile. \
F
Compensation :-

The conventions on the awarding of compensation for asbestosis
very in different countries. Unusual breathlessness on exertion, as
a cause of d¥'a1Ji!ity, ~ay be required, even though it is not essential
G for a confident -diagnosis of asbestosis. _J;6mpensation may be
limited to those with evidence of parenchymal disease; pleural
fibrosis - parietal or visceral - alone may not be accepted. Lung
(bronchial) cancer is usually accepted as part of the disease
provided there is at least some. .evidence of parenchymal fibrosis,
H but may be rejected if there is-no radiological evidence of pleural
CONSUMER EDUCATION CENfREv. U.0.1. (K RAMASWAMY, J.] 649

or parenchymal fibrosis. There is plenty of opportunity for dis· A
agreement, especially when a factor for uncertainty of prognosis is
included. It is now established that asbestos dust alone may cause
lung cancer although the absolute risk is very small compared with
that from the combined effects of cigarette smoking and asbestos
dust. It has not been established that pleural plaques alone result B
in an increased risk of bronchial or mesothelial tumours, above
that for similar exposures to asbestos dust without these pleural .
changes. The considerable uncertainty about the likely rate of
progression of the fibrosis makes assessment on first diagnosis
especially difficult. Lung biopsy is not justifiable solely for com-
pensation assessment. C

ASBESTOS (mesothelioma and lung cancer):-

While pulmonary fibrosis due to exposure to asbestos (asbestosis)
has been known for decades, the first reports of individual cases D
of asbestosis combined with pulmonary cancer which appeared
from time to time in various countries were accepted more as a
curiosity. They did not attract much attention until in 1947 a British·
Chief Inspector of Factories, E.R.A. Marewether, reported that
lung cancer was found to be the cause of death in 13.2% of persons
known to have asbestosis who had died and been authopsied E
between 1923 and 1946. A similar high proportion of cancer deaths
in asbestosis was found by other pathologists and the probability
of a role of asbestos in pulmonary carcinogenesis was definitely
established by an epidemiological study by Doll in · 1955, and
confirmed by further studies. p

Soon afterwards a new surprising discovery was made in South
Africa. An accumulation of cases of an otherwise very rare tumour
of the pleura and peritoneum, the malignant mesothelioma, was
reported by Wagner in 1959 and related to exposure to the locally
mined type of asbestos, crocidolite. Soon afterwards cases were G
identified in non-mining occupational exposures to asbestos in
England, in the United States and elsewhere. In contrast with
asbestosis, and in contrast with asbestos-related pulmonary cancer
mesothelioma was found also in persons_ whose exposure was no~
necessarily occupational. - H
650 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1995) 1 s.C.R.

A Bronchogenic c~cinoma related to asbestos :-

Bronchogenic carcinoma of the lung. There is a disease very
common in the general population. While in many countries the
total mortality from cancer slowly declines, the incidence and
mortality from lung cancer increases and stands as the most fre-
B quent cause of death from cancer, particularly in cigarette smokers.
It begins with transformation of the mucous membrane lining the
inside of the bronchus at various level and such foci of transfor-
mation may remain at their initial spot for some time shedding at
times atypical or metaplastic cells into the sputum without causmg
c other symptoms. This is the period in which we sometimes may
· succeed in discovering these pre-cancerous, or the earliest can-
cerous, changes by sputum cytology sooner than by other diagnos-
. tic methods. Some of such early alterations of cells is reversible
and may spontaneously heal when the cause disappears, e.g. when
the· person stops smoking. When the original focus develops
D definite cancer cells, the focus begins to grow, to bleed and slowly
to obstruct the way, a growing malignant tumour becomes visible
on the radiogram, and unless it can be surgic::ally removed as soon
as confirmed, it· tends to spread through growth and through
dissemination by blood and by lymph and to lead eventually to
E death. Supporting treatment by chemotherapy and radiation suc-
cessfully prolongs life and radical surgery can provide complete
healing.

The various components of the bronchial lining may undergo
malignant transformation and consequently the carcinoma may be
F composed of various cells and have various histological appearan-
ces such as adenocar-cinoma or squamous, or oat-cell carcinoma..
'
There are no histological or other charactetistics ~ch would
specify the individual lung cancer as cancer caised by' asbestos.
G In many cases of asbestos-linked pulnionary cancers the lungs
also show pulmonary fibrosis-asbestosis microscopically, and often
macroscopically, and on X-ray examination. Some scientist:S b. •y~
that so-called "asbestos lung cancer" can only develop on a
pathologically changed terrain of asbestotic fibrosis. There is
H evidence of such a possibility in human pathology : the scar-car-
CONSUMER EDUCATION CENlREv. U.O.I. (K RAMASWAMY, J.) 651

cinoma. Others believe that exposure tc? asbestos alone, particular- A
ly in a smoker, may provoke cancerous growth without also causing
asbestosis. The decision between the two opinions is difficult to
reach because in individual clinical cases of bronchogenic car-
cinoma we cannot distinguish what is an "asbestos cancer", a
"cigarette cancer" or lung cancer from yet another cause. Thus, in
B
most countries bronchogenic carcinoma is considered an occupa-
tional disease due to asbestos, e.g. for workmen's compensation,
only in the presence of coexisting asbestosis. If pulmonary fibrosis
were a prerequisite for development of asbestos-linked lung can-
cer, it would follow that lowering exposures to asbestos to levels
which effectively prevent asbestosis would automatically eliminate c
"asbestos lung cancer".

Epidemiologi,cal data :-

In man the link of lung cancer with asbestos has been mainly
epidemiological. While asbestosis cannot occur without exposure D
to asbestos and consequently every case of asbestosis must be
linked with such exposure, with pulmonary cancer the situation is
quite different. It is a rather common disease in the general
population. The link with exposure to asbestos is based on finding
whether in those· exposed to asbestos is based on finding whether E
in those exposed to asbestos lung cancer occurs more freq~ently
than in those unexposed, i.e. whether in those exposed there is an
excess incidence of lung cancers.

Since Doll's study a number of other epidemiological studies,
of various levels of excellence, have been carried out which confirm F
that indeed there is an excess of bronchogenic carcinoma in
persons exposed to asbestos, under certain circumstances, and thus
that asbestos must be considered one of a number of carcinogenic
substance.

What are the circumstances of a manifest risk of cancer in G
asbestos exposure? It has been established that smoking cigarettes
greatly increases this risk. In fact the large majority of lung cancers
attributeo to asbestos exposure have occurred in smokers. A lung
cancer in ati asbestos-exposed non-smoker has been a rarity. Table
1 shows the effect of both exposures together while each of the H
652 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1995].1 S.C.R.

A two exposures also carries a risk by itself. A particular expo~ure
...,._
to asbestos in the reported group of workers increased the basic
risk of pulmonary cancer in non-smokers. However, since the risk
in non-smokers was very small, its further increase still meant only ~.

very few cases, if any at all. On the other hand, when the basic risk II

of exposure to asbestos was combined with the 11.8 times higher
B risk of a smoker, this combination necessarily produced a serious
risk leading to an excess of incidence of pulmonary cancer. This
experience has an important prac~ical implication: most "asbestos -,.
· cancers of the lungs'1 could be prevented if the workers did not
smoke. In fact it was found that the risk for the asbestos workers
c who had stopped smoking declined after 10 years to the low level
existing for non-smokers.

The bronchogenic carcinoma has a long latent period, usually
20 years or more. Consequently, what excesses of incidence of
pulmonary carcinoma linked wi~h asbestos have been fqund to date
D must be linked with exposures 20 years or more· before develop- "' jL
r
ment of the tumour. It is known that exposures in thos~ days were
generally very high. But we usually do not have any precise meas-
urements. Thus in most existing epidemiological studies it has not
been easy, and in some not possible, to establish a relation between
E the incidence of cancer and a certain quantitative level of exposure,
other than that the exposure had been high.

Table 1

Asbestos exposure
F Little Moderate Heavy
Non-smokers 1.0 2.0 6.9
Moderate smokers 6.3 7.5 12.9
Heavy smokers 11.8 13.3 25.0

(j. • From : McDonald, J.C. "Asbestos-related diseases: an epidemiological ..,_
review" (587-601). Biological effects of mineral fibres, Wagner; J.C. (ed).
IARC Scientific Publications No. 30 (Lyons, International Agency for
Research on Cancer, 1980) Vol. 2.

H One quan~itative measure commonly used is the duration of
CONSUMER EDUCATION CENTRE v. U.O.I. [K RAMASWAMY, J.) 653

exposure in years. In _other studies the period since first exposure A
and the duration of exposure. Only a few investigations have had
the additional benefit of actually measured data on past levels of
exposure. An example of the latter is the series of epidemiological
studies of workers of the chrysotile mines of Quebec carried out
by J.C. McDonald and his collaborators. This and some other
studi~.showed a dose-response relationship, i.e. the higher was
B
the dose, in terms of level of exposure, or of periods of exposure,
or of'6oth of them combined, the hight!r was the excess incidence
of ;bronchogenic cancer. In fact the excess incidence of lung cancer
and statistically significantly increased relative risk was usually
found only in groups of persons most severely exposed (see Table c
2)

Table 2. Relative risks of lung cancer in relation to accumulated dust or
fibre exposure, before and after correction of work histories, with controls
,. matched for smoking. D
~
Accumulated dust exposure (millions of
particles per cubic foot x years)
<30 30<300 300<1000 >1000 All
Before E
89 73 56 27 245
correction Cases
Controls 108 87 42 8 245
Relative. risk 1 1.02 1.62 4.10 -
After correction
85 73 59 27 244
Cases F
Controls 101 89 44 10 244
Relative risk 1 0.97 1.59 . 3.21 -
Accumulated fibre exposure (fibres per ml x years)
<100 100< 1000 1000<3000 >3000 All G
After correction
86 76 56 26 244
Cases
~

Controls 110 87 35 12 244
Relative risk 1 1.12 2.05 2.77 -
.,
654 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1995] 1 S.C.R.

A From : McDonald .J.C. : Gibbs, G.W., Liddell, F.D,K. "Chrysotile fibre
concentration and lung cancer mortality: a preliminary report" (811-817).
Biological effects of mineral fibres. Wagner, J.C. (ed). IARC scientific
publication No. 30 (Lyons, International Agency for Research on Cancer,
1980), Vol. 2.
B In Asbestos Medical and Legal Aspects by Barry I. Castleman at p.10.
had stated that Dr. Merewether following the ·diagnosis by Homburter in
his co-incidence of Primary Carcinoma at the Lungs and Pulmonany As-
bestos 1943 stated that fibrosis of the lungs as it occurs among asbestos
workers as the slow growth of fibrous tissue (scar tissue) between the air
cells of the lungs wherever the inhaled dust comes to ·rest. While new
C fibrous tissue i~ being laid down like a spider's web, that deposited earlier
gradually contracts. This fibrous tissue is not only useless as a substitute
for the air cells, but with continued inhalation of the causative dust, by its
invasion of new territory and consolidation of that already occupied, it
gradually, and literally strangles the essential tissues of the lungs. In Malig-
D nant Mesothelioma in Norway by Gunnar Mowe,, 1986 Ed., he stated at p.8
on Aetiology of malignant mesothelioma that in 1943, Dr. Wedler reviewed
. malignancies in 30 asbestosis cases in Germany, and suggested a casual
association between asbestosis and both bronchial cancer and malignant
mesothelioma. At p.9, he stated that in 1969, Wagner and Berry reported
E that all the main types of asbestos fibres were capable of producing
mesotheliomas in. rats after intrapleural or. intraperitoneal installation. In
the same page in para 2.2, he stated that the importance of asbestos fibre
size in explaining the biological effects of asbestos was first emphasized by
Timbrell in 1965. At p.14 i~ para 3.2, caption - lung fibre burden, he stated
that lung fib~e burden, which is defined as the total content of mineral
F fibres in the lungs, depends on external asbestos exposure. At p.15 in Table
5, Biological effects of natural mineral fibres (asbestos related diseases),
he stated· that long latency time from first exposure until onset of disease
is a typical feature of all the asbestos related diseases. At p.16 in para 3.4,
he stated that among 948 patients with malignant mesothelioma, 65% were
G pleural, 24% peritoneal and 11 % pericardial. At p. 21, lung fibre analysis
under the caption material and methods, para 3, he stated that the lung
tissue samples for fibre analysis were obtained from twelve pathology
departments. The analysis samples from 85 men and 13 women disclosed
the malignant mesothelioma. At p.25, summary of his results in Paper V,
he stated that the median latency time from the first year of expo.sure until
H
CONSUMEREDUCATIONCENfREv. U.O.I. [K. RAMASWAMY,J.] 655

death was 35 .Years (range : 18-53), and the median time interval from last A
year of exposure until death was 14 years (range : upto 40 years). At p.32,
he stated that the estimated proportion of men with at least possible
occupational asbestos exposure were 82%. At p. 40, he stated that strict
regulations and effective control of such work are vital in order to prevent
asbestos related cancers in the future. At p. 41 in para 4, he stated that B
high amphibole concentration in lung tissue increases the risk of malignant
mesothelioma considerably. Asbestos exposure corresponding to only one
million fibres per gm. of dried lung tissue is also associated with increased
risk. In Blannie S. Wilson v. Johns Manville Sales Corpn. Ltd., 684 Federal
2nd 111 (1982), the United States Court of Appeal, District of Columbia
Circuit, Ginsburg; J., as a Judge in the Court of Appeal deciding the C
question of limitation of 3 years from the date of diagnosis of mild asbestos
held that the period of 3 years should be computed from the date of
discovery and that asbestos, which is not a cancerous process, has a latent
period of 10 to 25 years between initial exposure and apparent effect. Even
longer periods of time may pass before mesothelioma manifests itself. In D
William T. Urie v. Guy. A Thompson, 93 L. Ed. = 337 US 163, the Supreme
Court of the United States of America laid that the limitation of three years
prescibed by the statute of limitation starts from the time when the
employee discovers the disease and the cause of action accrues only when
diagnosis of the disease is accomplished, and not when the employee
unwittingly contracts it; nor is each inhalation of silica dust a separate torn E
giving rise to a fresh cause of action.

It would thus be clear that disease occurs wherever the exposure to
the toxic or carcinogenic agent occurs, regardless of the country, the type
of industry, job title, job assignment, or location of exposure. The disease p
will follow the trail of the exposure, and extend the chain of carcinog~nic
risk beyond the workplace. It is the exposure and the nature of that
exposure to asbestos that determines the risk and the diseases which
subsequently result. The development of the carcinogenic risk due to
asbestos or any other carcinogenic agent, does not require a continuous
exposure. The cancer risk does not cease when the exposure to the car- G
cinogenic agent ceases, but rather the individual carries the increased risk
for the remaining years of life. The exposure to asbestos and the resultant
long tragic chain of adverse medical, legal and societal consequences,
reminds the legal and social responsibility of the employer or the producer
not to endanger the workmen or the community or the society. He or it is H
656 SUPREME COl{RT REPORTS (1995) 1 S.C.R.

A not absolved of the inherent responsibility to the exposed workmen or the
society at large. They have the responsibility,' legal, moral and social to
provide protective measures to the workmen and to the public or all those
who are exposed to the harmful consequences of their products. Mere
adoption of regulations for the enforcement has no real meaning and
B efficacy without the professional, industrial and governmental resoureces
and legal and moral determination to implement such regulations.

The preamble and Article 38 of the Constitution of India - the
supreme law, envisions social justice as its arch to ensure life to be
meaningful and liveable with human dignity. Jurisprudence is the eye of .
C law giving an insight into the environment of 'which it is the expression. It
relates the law to the spirit of the time and makes it richer. Law is the
ultimate aim of every civilised society as a key system in a given era, to
. meet the needs and demands of its time. Justice, according to law, com-
prehends social urge and commitment. The Constitution commands justice,
D liberty, equality and fraternity as supreme values to usher in the egalitarian
social, economic and political democracy. Social justice, equality and dig-
nity of person are corner stones of social _democracy. The concept 'social
· justice' which the Constitution of India engrafted, consists of diverse prin-
ciples essential for the orderly growth and development of ·personality of
every citizen. "Social justice" is thus an integral part of "justice" in generic
E sense. Justice is the genus, of which social justice is one of its species. Social
justice is a dynamic device to mitigate the sufferings of the poor, weak,
Dalits, Tribals and deprived sections of the society and to elevate them to
the level of equality to live a life with dignity of person. Social justice is not
a simple or single idea of a society but is an essential part of complex social
F change to relieve the poor etc. from handicaps, penllry to ward off distress,
and to make their life liveable, for greater good of the society at large. In
other· words, the aim of social justice is to attain substantial· degree of
social, economic and political equality, which is the legitimate expectations.
Social security, just and humane conditions of work and leisure to workman
are part of his meaningful right to life and to achieve self- expression of
G his personality and to enjoy the life with dignity, the State should provide
facilities and opportunities to enable them to reach at least minimum
standard of health, economic security and civilised living while sharing
according to the capacity, social and cultural heritage .

.H In a developing soeiety like ours steeped-with unbridgeable and ever
GONSUMEREDUCATIONCENTREv. U.0.1.(I<.RAMASWAMY,J.) · 657

widening gaps of inequality in status and of opportunity1 law is catalyst. A
rubicon to the poor etc. to reach the ladder of social justice. Justice K.
Subba Rao, !he former Chief Justice of this Court, in his "Social Justice
and Law" ~t page 2, had stated that "Social Justice is one of the disciplines
of justice. and the discipline of justice relates to the society." What is due
cannot be. ascertained by absolute standard which keeps changing depend- B
ing upon the time, place and circumstance. The consitutional concern of
social justice as an elastic continuous process is to accord justice to all
sections of the society by providing facilities and opportunities to remove
handicaps and disabilities with which the poor etc. are languishing to
secure dignity of their person. Tlie Consitution, therefore, mandates the
State to accord justice to all members of the society in all facets of human C
activity. The concept of social justice imbeds equality to flavour and enliven
practical content of 'life'. Social justice and equality are complementary to
each other so that both should maintain their vitality. Rule of law, there-
fore, is a potent instrument of social justice to bring about equality in
results.
D
Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights asserts
human sensitivity and moral responsibility of every State that "all human
beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed
with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit
of brotherhood." The Charter of the United Nations thus reinforces the E
faith in fundamental human rights and in the dignity and worth of the
human person envisaged in the directive principles of State policy as part
of the constitution. The jurisprudence of personhood or philosophy of the
right to life envisaged under Article 21, enlarges its sweep to encompass
human personality in its full blossom with invigarated he!llth which is a F
wealth to the workman to earn his livelihood to sustain the dignity of
person and to live a life with dignity and equality. '

Article 38(1) lays down the foundation for human rights and enjoins
the State to promote the welfare of the people by securing and protecting,
as effectively as it may, a social order in which justice, social, economic and G
political, shall inform all the institutions of the national life. Art. 46 directs
the State to protect the poor· from social injustice and all forms of exploita-
tiorl':",Article 39(e) charges that the policy of the State shall be to secure
"the health and strength of the workers". Article 42 mandates that the
States shall make provision, statut~ry or executive "to secure just and H
658 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1995] 1 S,C.R.

A humane conditions of work". Article 43 directs that the State shall "en-
deavour to secure to all work~rs, by suitable legislation or economic
organisation or any other way to ensure decent standard Of life and full
enjoyment of leisure and social and cultural opportunities to the workers".
Article 48-A enjoins the State to protect and improve the environment. As
B human resources are valuable national assets for peace, industrial or
material production, national wealth, progress, social stability,. descent
standard of life of worker is an input. Art. 25(2) of the universal declaration
of human rights ensures right to standard of adequate living for health and
well being of the· itidividual including medical care, sickness and disability,
Article 2(b) of the International Convention on Political, Social and Cul-
C tural Rights protects the right of worker to enjoy just and favourable
conditions of work ensuring safe and healthy working conditions.

The expression 'life' assured in Art. 21 of the Constitution does not
connote mere animal existence or continued drudgery through life. It has
D a much wider meaning which includes right to livelihood, better standard
of living, hygienic conditions in work place and leisure. In Olga Tellis v.
Bombay Municipal C01poration, [1985] 3 SCC 545, this Court held that no
person can live without the means of living i.e. means of livelihood. If the
right to livelihood is not treated as a part of the constitutional right to life,
the easiest way of depriving a person of his right to life would be to deprive
E him of his means of livelihood to the point of abrogation. Such deprivation
would not only denude the life of its effective content of meaningfulness
but it would make life impossible to live, leave aside what makes life
liveable. The right to life with human dignity enco!llpasses within its fold,
some of the finer facets of human civilisation which makes life worth living.
F The expanded connotation of life would mean the tradition and cultural
heritage of the persons concerned. In State of H.P. v. Urned Ram Shanna,
[1986] 2 SCC 68, this Court held that the right to life includes the quality
of life as understood in its richness and fullness by the ambit of the
constitution. Access to road was held to be an access to life itself in that
state.
G
In Sunil Batra v. Delhi Administration, [1978] 4 SCC 494, considering Y..
the effect of solitary confinement of a prisoner sentenced to death and the
.
meaning of the word 'life' enshrined under Article 21, the Constitution
Bench held that the quality of life convered by Article 21 is something more
H than the dynamic meaning attached to life and liberty. The same view was
CONSUMER EDUCATION CENTREv. U.0.1. [K. RAMASWAMY, J.) 659

reiterated in Board of Tntstees of the Po1t of Bombay v. D.R. Nadkami, A
[1983] 1 SCC 124; Vikram Dea Singh Tamar v. State of Bihm; [1988J Suppl.
SCC 734 and R. Autyanuprasi v. Union of India, [1989] 1 Suppl. SCC 251.
In Charles Sobraj v. Supdt. Central Jail, Tihw; AIR (1978) SC 1514, this
Court held that the right to life includes right to human dignity. The right
against torture, cruel or unusual punishment or degraded treatment was B
held to violate the right to life. In Bandhua Mukli Marcha v. Union of India,
[1984] 3SCC161at183-84, this Court held that the right to live with human
dignity, enshrined in Article 21, derives its life-breath from the directive
+ principles of the State policy and particularly Clauses (e) and (f) of Article
39 and Articles 41 and 42. In C.E.S.C. Ltd. & Ors. v. Subhash Chandra
Bose, [1992] 1 SCC 441, considered the gamut of operational efficacy of C
Human Rights and the constitutional rights, the right to medical aid and
health and held that the right to social justice are fundamental rights.
Rights to free legal aid to the poor and indigent worker was held to be a
fundamental right in Khatri (II) v. State of Bihar, [1981] 1 SCC 627. Right
to education was held to be a fundamental right vide Maharashtra State D
B.O.S. & H.S. Education v. KS. Gandhi, [1991] 2 SCC 716 and Unni
Krishnan v. State of A.P., [1993] 1 SCC 645.

The right to health to a worker is an integral facet of meaningful right
to life to have not only a meaningful existence but also robust health and
vigour without which worker would lead life of misery. Lack of health E
denudes his livelilmod. Compelling economic necessity to work in an
industry exposed to health hazards due to indigence to bread-winning for
himself and his dependents, should not be at the cost of the health and
vigour of the workman. Facilities and opportunities, as enjoined in Article
')
38, should be provided to protect the health of the workman. Provision for p
medical test and treatment invigorates. the health of the worker for higher.
production or efficient service. Continued treatment, while i11 service or
after retirement is a moral, legal and constitutional concomitant duty of the
employer and the State. Therefore, it must be held that the right to health
and medical care is a fundamental right udner Article 21 read with Articles
39(c), 41 and 43 of the Constitution and make the life of the workman G
meaningful and purposeful with dignity of person. Right to life includes
protection of the health and strength of the worker and is a minimum
requirement to enable a person to live with human dignity. The State, be
,t Union or State government or an industry, public or private, is enjoined
to take all such action which will promote health, strength and vigour of· H
660 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1995] 1 S.C.R.

A the workman during the period of employment and leisure and ~ealth even
after retirement as basic essentials to live the life with health and happiness.
The health and strength of the worker is an integral facet of right to life.
Denial thereof denudes the workman the finer facets of life violating Art.
21. The right to human dignity, development of personality, social protec-
B tion, right to rest and leisure are fundamental human rights to a workman
assured by the Charter of Human Rights, in the Preamble and Arts. 38 and
39 of the Constitution. Facilities for medical care and health against -
sickness ensures stable manpower for economic development and would
generate devotion to duty and dedication to give the workers' best physi-
cally as well as mentally in production of goods or services. Health of the
C worker enables him to enjoy the fruit of his labour, keeping him physically
fit and mentally alert for leading a successful life, economically, socially
and culturally. Medical facilities to protect the health of the workers are,
therefore, the fundamental and human rights to the workmen.

D Therefore, we hold that right to health, medical aid to protect the
health and vigour to a worker while in service or post retirement is a
fundamental right under Article 21, read with Articles 39(e), 41, 43, 48A
and all related Articles and fundamental human rights to make the life of
the workman meaningful and purposeful with dignity of person.

E In M.C. Mehta v. Union of India, [1987) 4 SCC 463, when tanneries
were discharging effluents into the river Ganges, this Court, in a public
interest litigation, while directing to implement Water (Prevention. and
Control of Pollution) Act or Environment (Protection) Act, prevented the
tanneries etc. by appropriate directions from discharging effluents into the
p river Ganga, directed establishment of primary treatment plants etc. and l'

such' of these industries tltat did not comply with the directions were
ordered to be closed. When ecological balance was getting upset by
destroying forest due to working the mines, this Court directed closer of
the mines. In Pt. .Pannanand Katara v. Union of India, [1989) 4 SCC 286,
this Court directed even private. doctors or hospitals to extend services to
G protect the life of patient, be an innocent or a criminal - liable for
punishment in accordance with law. In National Textile Workers' Union v.
P.R. Ramakrishnan, [1983) · 1 SCR 922, the Constitution Bench, per
majoirity, held that the role of a company in modern economy and their
increasing impact of individuals and groups through the ramifications of
H their activities, began to be increasingly recognised. The socio- economic
CONSUMEREDUCATIONCENTREv. u.o.t (K:RAMASWAMY,J.) 661

objectives. set out in P?rt IV of the constitution guide and shape the new A
corporate philosophy. "Today social scientists and thinkers regard a com-
pany as a living vital and dynamic social organism with firm and deep
roote'ti. affiliations with the rest of the community in which it functions. It
wo~ld be wrong to look upon it as something belonging to the
shareholders." It was further held that "it is not only the share-holders who
have supplied capital who are interested in the enterprise which is being
B
run by a ·company but the workers who supply labour are also equally, if
not, more interested because what is produced by the enterprise is the
+ result of labour as well as capital In fact, the owners of capital bear only
limited financial risk and otheriwse contribute nothing to production while
labour contributes a major share of the product. While the former invest c
only a part of their moneys, the latter invest their sweat and toil, in fact
their life itself. The workers, therefore, have a speical place in a socialist
pattern of society. They are not mere vendors of toil, they are not a
marketable commodity to be purchased by the owners of capital. They are
producers of wealth as much as capital - nay very much more. They supply
D
_J " labour without which capital would be impotent and they, at the least, equal
partners with capital in enterprise. Our constitution has shown profound
concern for the workers and given them a pride of place in the new
socio-economic order envisaged in the Preamble and the Directive Prin-
ciples of State Policy. The Preamble contains the profound declaration
pregnant with meaning and hope for millions of peasants and workers that E
India shall be a socialist democratic republic where social and economic
justice will inform all the institutions of national life and there will be
equality of status and opportunity for all and every endeavour shall be
_..I made to promote fraternity ensurmg the dignity of the individual." In that
_, case, the question was whether the labour is entitled to be heard before a F
company is clos~d and liquidator is appointed. In considering that question
vis-a-vis Article.43-A of the constitution, this Court, per majority, held th'1t
they are entitled to be heard before appointing a liquidator in a winding
up proceedings of the company.

In Workmen of Meenakshi Mills Ltd. v. Meenakshi Mills Ltd.,· [1992] G
A:
3 S.CC 336, a Bench of three Judges considered the vires of S~ction 25-N
of the Industrial Disputes Act on the anvil of Article 19{1)(f) of the
Constitution. It was held that the right of the Management under Article
19(1)(f) is subject to the mandates contained in Articles 38, 39-A, 41 and
43. Accordirgly, the fundamental right, under Article 19{1)(g) was held to H
/
662 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1995] 1 S.C.R.

A be subject to the directive principles and s.25-N does not suffer from the
vice of unconstitutionality.

It would thus be clear that in an appropriate case, the Court would
give appropriate directions to the employer, be it the State or its undertak-.
ing or private employer to make the right to life meaningful; to prevent
B pollution of work place; protection of the environment; protection of the
health of the workman or to preserve free and unpolluted water for the
safety and health of the people. The authorities or even private persons or
industry are bound by the directions issued by this Court under Article 32 ...,..
and Article 142 of the Constitution.
c
Yet another contention of the petitioners is that the workman af.
fectec.i by asbestosis are suffering from lung cancer and related ailments
and. they were not properly diagnosed. They be sent to national institute
and such of those found suffering from diseases developed due to asbestos,
D proper compensation paid. It is needless to reiterate that they need to be ~
reexamined and cause for the disease and the nature of the disease
+-
diagnosed, thereon deciding each one of them whether entitled to
damages? The employer is vicariously liable to pay damages is unques-
tionable. The award of compensation in proceedings under Article 32 or
226 is a remedy available in public law. In Rudul Sah v. State of Bihar,
E [1993) 3 SCR 508, it was held that this Court under Article 32 can grant
I '
compensation for the deprivation of personal liberty, though ordinary
process of court, may be available to enforce the right and money claim
could be granted by this Court. Accordingly compensation was awarded.
This view was reiterated in Nilabati Behera v. State of Ori.ssa, [1993) 2 SCC '+
F 746 and awarded monetary compensation for custodial death lifting the . ~·

State immunity from the purview of public law. It is, therefore, settled law
that in public law claim for compensation is a remedy available under
Article 32 or 226 for the enforcement and protection or fundamental and
human rights. The defence of sovereign immunity is inapplicable and alien
..
to the concept of guarantee of fundamental rights. There is no question of
G defence being available for constitutional remedy. It is a practical:i-.'and
inexpensive mode of redress available for the contravention made by,_the >-
State, its servants, it instrumentalities, a company or a person in the
purported exercise of their powers and enforcement of the rights claimed
either under the statutes or licence issued under the statute or for the
H enforecement of any right or duty under the constitution or the law.
CONSUMEREDUCATIONCENTRE1" U.0.1. [K. RAMASWAMY,.T.J 663

The Government of India issued model Rule 123-A under the Fae- A
· tories Act for adoption. Under the directions issued by this Court from
time to time, all the State governments have by now amended their respec-
tife rules and adopted the same as part of it but still there are yearning
gaps in their effective implementation in that behalf. It is, therefore,
nrtcessary to issue appropriate directions. In the light of the rules "All B
Safety in the Use of Asbestos" ·issued by the I.L.O., the same shall be
binding on all the industries. As a fact, the 13th respondent-Ferodo Ltd.
+ admitted in its written submissions that all the major industries in India
have formed an association called the "Asbestos Information Centre'' {AIC)
affiliated to the Asbestos International Association (AIA), r..ondon. The
AIA has been publishing a code of conduct for its members in accordance C
with the international practice and all the members of AIC have been
following the same. In view of that admission, they are bound by the
directions issued by the ILO referred to in the body of the judgment. In
that view, it is not necessary to issue any direction to Union or State
Governments to constitute a committee to convert the dry process of D
manufacturing into wet process but they are bound by the rules not only
specifically referred to in the judgment but all the rules in that behalf in
the above I.L.O. rules. The Employees State Insurance Act and the
Worken's Compensation Act provide for payment of mandatory compen-
sation for the injury or death caused to the workman while in employment.
Since the Act does not provide for payment of compensation after cessa- E
tion of employment, it becomes necessary to protect such persons from the
respective dates of cessation of their employment till date. Liquidated
damages by way of compensation are accepted principles of compensation.
In the light of the law above laid down and also on the doctrine of tortuous
liability, the respective factories or companies shall be bound to compen- F
sate the workmen for the health hazards which is the cause for the disease
with which the workmen are suffering from or had suffered pending the
writ petitions. Therefore, the factory or establishment shall be responsible
to pay liquidated damages to the concerned workmen.

The writ petition. is, therefore, allowed. All the industries are G
directe4 (1) To maintain and keep maintaining the health record of every
worl>er up to a minimum period of 40 years from the beginning of the
employment or 15 years after retirement or cessation of the employment
whichever is later; (2) the Membrane Filter test, to detect asbestos fiber
should be adopted by all the factories or establishments at par with the H
_/

664 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [1995] 1 S.C.R.

A Metalliferrous Mines Regu~ations, 1961; and Vienna Convention and Rules
issued thereunder; (3) All the factories whether covered by the Employees
State Insurance Act or Workmen's Compensation Act or otherwise are
directed to compulsorily insure health coverage to every worker; (4) The
Union and the State Governments are directed to review the standards of
B permissible exposure limit value of fibre/cc in tune with the international
standards reducing the permissible content as prayed in the writ petition
referred to at the beginning. The review shall be continued after every 10
years and also as and when the I.L.O. gives directions in this behalf
consistent with its recomlflendations or any Conventions; (5) The Union
+
and all the State Governments are directed to consider inclu~ion of such
C of those small scale factory or factories or industries to protect health
hazards of the worker engaged in the manufacture of asbestos or its
ancillary products; (6) The appropriate Inspector of Factories in particular
of the State of Gujarat, is directed to send all the workers, examined by
the concerned ESI hospital, for re- examination by the National Institute
D of Occupational Health to detect whether all or any of them are suffering
from asbestosis. In case of the positive finding that all or any of them are
suffering from the occupational health hazards, each such worker shall be
entitled to compensation in a sum of rupees one lakh payable by .the
concerned factory or industry or establishment within a period of three
months from the date of certification by the National Institute of Occupa-
E tional Health.
The writ petitions are accordingly allowed. No. costs.

A.G. Petitions allowed.