Apprentices are trainees and not workers
Section 18 of the Apprentices Act, 1961 deals with apprentices are trainees and not workers. Save as otherwise provided in this Act,-- (a) every apprentice undergoing apprenticeship training in a designated trade in an establishment shall be a trainee and not a worker; The Act came into force on 01 Mar 1962.
Save as otherwise provided in this Act,--
(a) every apprentice undergoing apprenticeship training in a designated trade in an establishment shall be a trainee and not a worker; and
(b) the provisions of any law with respect to labour shall not apply to or in relation to such apprentice
Section 18, The Apprentices Act, 1961 (Act 52 of 1961).
Related judgements & precedents
These are some judgments that construed this section, and hold precedence value. They hold authority on how to read, interpret and use this section.
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Ram Gopal Dwivedi v. Kanpur Electricity Supply Co. Ltd.
Court's Decision & Legal Precedent
Judgment order-17.pdf 2017-07-25 (reportable; body date clear; automated DATE-CHECK FP on earlier fact dates in narrative — same pattern as prior waves). SC: Apprentices Act 1961 s.18 — apprentices are trainees and not workers; not workmen under ID Act for regularisation claim. Map Apprentices Act s.18.
On this section: Apprentices Act s.18 apprentices are trainees and not workers: SC rejects ID Act regularisation claim (Ram Gopal Dwivedi).
The holding above is the ratio decidendi as extracted from the judgment by eCourts India, reproduced unaltered — it is a rendering of the court's reasoning, not a substitute for its words. Read the order itself before relying on it.
Questions about Section 18
What have the courts held on Section 18 of the Apprentices Act?
Ram Gopal Dwivedi v. Kanpur Electricity Supply Co. Ltd. (25 Jul 2017) is the leading judgment on this section among those set out below: Apprentices Act s.18 apprentices are trainees and not workers: SC rejects ID Act regularisation claim (Ram Gopal Dwivedi).
How do I find court cases under Section 18 of the Apprentices Act?
In judgments and charge sheets this section is written several ways, and each form finds a different set of orders. These search the full text of every order eCourtsIndia holds, best matches first: Apprentices Act 1961 18, section 18 Apprentices Act 1961, section 18 of the Apprentices Act. Each opens the full list of orders on eCourtsIndia, where it can be narrowed by court, year and outcome. 1 reported judgment on this section is set out on this page, beginning with Ram Gopal Dwivedi v. Kanpur Electricity Supply Co. Ltd. (25 Jul 2017).
When did Section 18 of the Apprentices Act come into force?
Section 18 of the Apprentices Act, cited as Apprentices Act 1961 18, came into force on 01 Mar 1962, having been enacted on 12 Dec 1961. It is in force as at the date shown on this page.
Other sections of this Act
- 2. Definitions956 words
- 8. Number of apprentices for a designated trade903 words
- 9. Practical and basic training of apprentices876 words
- 7. Termination of apprenticeship contract538 words
- 13. Payment to apprentices487 words
- 24. Constitution of Councils443 words
Source and method. Compiled from the enactments of Parliament and of the State legislatures as published on India Code, and republished together with commentary and other original matter under section 52(1)(q)(ii) of the Copyright Act, 1957. Structured, cross-referenced and maintained by eCourtsIndia. Text as in force on 15 Oct 2026. This page is not a substitute for legal advice.