Supreme Court: 'Manufacturing' Under Factories Act Comprises Cleaning, Washing, and Drying Clothes

The Supreme Court ruled that laundry businesses, including washing, cleaning, and dry cleaning, are considered a "manufacturing process" under the Factories Act, 1948.

The case involved White Cloud, a laundry business in Goa, which was found violating several factory laws, including operating without a license.

The Bombay High Court had earlier ruled that dry cleaning was not a manufacturing process. However, the State of Goa challenged this decision.

The Supreme Court overturned the ruling, stating that transformation or the creation of a new product is not necessary for an activity to be considered a manufacturing process under the law, and dry cleaning constitutes a "manufacturing process" under section 2(k) of the Act.