Abstract
The paper critically revisits the PLA 1951 (and its amendments) and discusses threads of anomalies in its making over the years. While doing so, it discusses the conflicts about the domain of plantation sector, on the issue of institutional exclusion, presents views of planters and government bodies on the components of social costs and explore alternative ways to reduce social welfare cost components of the sector so as to improve cost competitiveness of the industry along with protecting labour interest.