This batch of appeals before a Nine-Judge Bench of the Supreme Court of India centred on whether the Social Forestry Department of the State of Uttar Pradesh qualifies as an 'industry' under Section 2(j) of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947. The core question required the Court to authoritatively interpret the definition of 'industry' and to revisit the landmark seven-judge bench ruling in Bangalore Water Supply case, which had laid down the 'Triple Test' and the 'Dominant Nature Test' for determining what constitutes an industry. The Court traced the extensive interpretational history of Section 2(j), noting subsequent legislative changes including the Industrial Disputes (Amendment) Act, 1982 and the Industrial Relations Code, 2020, which have since altered the statutory landscape, though the present petitions were filed under the old regime. Despite the provision no longer being in force, the Court held it was constitutionally obligated to adjudicate the referred question and bring the matter to a reasoned and authoritative conclusion.