Union of India - Act
The Industrial Disputes (Central) Rules,1957
UNION OF INDIA
India
India
The Industrial Disputes (Central) Rules,1957
Rule THE-INDUSTRIAL-DISPUTES-CENTRAL-RULES-1957 of 1957
- Published on 10 March 1957
- Commenced on 10 March 1957
- [This is the version of this document from 10 March 1957.]
- [Note: The original publication document is not available and this content could not be verified.]
13.
/622S.O.R. 770, dated 10th March, 1957. - In exercise of the powers conferred by section 38 of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 (14 of 1947), the Central Government hereby makes the following rules, the same having been previously published as required by sub-section (1) of the said section, namely :-Preliminary1. Title and application.
2. Interpretation.
- In these rules, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context-Part I
Procedure For Reference Of Industrial Disputes To Boards Of Conciliation, Courts Of Enquiry, Labour Courts, Industrial Tribunals Or National Tribunals3. Application.
- An application under sub-section (2) of section 10 for the reference of an industrial dispute to a Board, Court, Labour Court, Tribunal or National Tribunal shall be made in Form A and shall be delivered personally or forwarded by registered post [to the Secretary to the Government of India in the Ministry of Labour and Employment (in triplicate)] [ Substituted by G.S.R. 811, dated 3.7.1959.], the Chief Labour Commissioner (Central), New Delhi, and the Regional Labour Commissioner (Central), and the Assistant Labour Commissioner (Central) concerned. The application shall be accompanied by a statement setting forth-4. Attestation of application.
- The application and the statement accompanying it shall be signed-5. Notification of appointment of Board, Court, Labour Court, Tribunal or National Tribunal.
- The appointment of a Board, Court, Labour Court, Tribunal or National Tribunal together with the names of persons constituting the Board, Court, Labour Court, Tribunal or National Tribunal shall be notified in the Official Gazette.6. Notice to parties to nominate representatives.
Part II – Arbitration Agreement
7. Arbitration agreement.
- An arbitration agreement for the reference of an industrial dispute to an arbitrator or arbitrators shall be made in Form C and shall be delivered personally or forwarded by registered post to the Secretary to the Government of India in the Ministry of Labour (in triplicate, the Chief Labour Commissioner (Central), New Delhi, and the Regional Labour Commissioner (Central) and the Assistant Labour Commissioner (Central) concerned. The agreement shall be accompanied by the consent, in writing, of the arbitrator or arbitrators.8. Attestation of the arbitration agreement.
- The arbitration agreement shall be signed-Part III – Powers, Procedure And Duties Of Conciliation Officers, Boards, Courts, Labour Courts, Tribunals, National Tribunals And Arbitrators
9. Conciliation proceedings in public utility service.
- [(1)] [ R. 9 renumbered as sub-R. (1) by G.S.R. 1220, dated 7.10.1960.] The Conciliation Officer, on receipt of a notice of a strike or lock-out given under rule 71 or rule 72, shall forthwith arrange to interview both the employer and the workmen concerned with the dispute at such places and at such times as he may deem fit and shall endeavour to bring about a settlement of the dispute in question.10. Conciliation proceedings in non-public utility service.
- Where the Conciliation Officer receives any information about an existing or apprehended industrial dispute which does not relate to public utility service and he considers it necessary to intervene in the dispute, he shall give formal intimation in writing to the parties concerned declaring his intention to commence conciliation proceedings with effect from such date as may be specified therein.[10-A. Parties to submit statements. [ Substituted by G.S.R. 857, dated 22.6.1961.]- The employer or the party representing workmen ][or in the case of an individual workman, the workman himself] [ Inserted by G.S.R. 1059, dated 30.5.1968.][involved in an industrial dispute shall forward a statement setting forth the specific matters in dispute to the Conciliation Officer concerned whenever his intervention in the dispute is required.] [ Substituted by G.S.R. 857, dated 22.6.1961.][10-B. Proceeding before the Labour Court, Tribunal or National Tribunal. [ Substituted by G.S.R. 932, dated 18.8.1984.]11.
The Conciliation Officer may hold a meeting of the representatives of both parties jointly or of each party separately.12.
The Conciliation Officer shall conduct the proceedings expeditiously and in such manner as he may deem fit.13. Place and time of hearing.
- [Subject to the provisions contained in rules 10-A and 10-B] [ Inserted by G.S.R. 141, dated 31.12.1957.] the sittings of a Board, Court, Labour Court, Tribunal or National Tribunal or of an Arbitrator shall be held at such times and places as the Chairman or the Presiding Officer or the Arbitrator, as the case may be, may fix and the Chairman, Presiding Officer or the Arbitrator, as the case may be, shall inform the parties of the same in such manner as he thinks fit.14. Quorum for Boards and Courts.
- The quorum necessary to constitute a sitting of a Board or Court shall be as follows-| (i) in the case of a Board | Quorum |
| where the number of members is 3 | 2 |
| where the number of members is 5 | 3 |
| (ii) in the case of a Court where the number of members is not more than 2 | 1 |
| where the number of members is more than 2 but less than 5 | 2 |
| where the number of members is 5 or more | 3 |
15. Evidence.
- A Board, Court, Labour Court, Tribunal or National Tribunal or an arbitrator may accept, admit or call for evidence at any stage of the proceedings before it/him and such manner as it/he may think fit.16. Administration of oath.
- Any member of a Board or Court or Presiding Officer of a Labour Court, Tribunal or National Tribunal or an arbitrator may administer an oath.17. Summons.
- Summons issued by a Board, Court, Labour Court, Tribunal or National Tribunal shall be in Form D and may require any person to produce before it any books, papers or other documents and things in the possession of or under the control of such person in any way relating to the matter under investigation or adjudication by the Board, Court, Labour Court, Tribunal or National Tribunal which the Board, Court, Tribunal or National Tribunal thinks necessary for the purposes of such investigation or adjudication.18. [ Service of summons or notice. [ Substituted by G.S.R. 1151, dated 11.10.1974.]
- Subject to the provisions contained in rule 20, any notice, summons, process or order issued by a Board, Court, Labour Court, Tribunal, National Tribunal or an Arbitrator empowered to issue such notice, summons, process or order, may be served either personally or by registered post and in the event of refusal by the party concerned to accept the said notice, summons, process or order, the same shall be sent again under certificate of posting. ]19. Description of parties in certain cases.
- Where in any proceeding before a Board, Court, Labour Court, Tribunal or National Tribunal or an Arbitrator, there are numerous persons arrayed on any side, such persons shall be described as follows-20. Manner of service in the case of numerous persons as parties to a dispute.
21. Procedure at the first sitting.
- At the first sitting of a Board, Court, Labour Court, Tribunal or National Tribunal, the Chairman or the Presiding Officer, as the case may be, shall call upon the parties in such order as he may think fit to state their case.22. Board, Court, Labour Court, Tribunal, National Tribunal or Arbitrator may proceed ex parte .
- If without sufficient cause being shown, any party to proceedings before a Board, Court, Labour Court, Tribunal, National Tribunal or Arbitrator fails to attend or to be represented, the Board, Court, Labour Court, Tribunal, National Tribunal or Arbitrator may proceed, as if the party had duly attended or had been represented.23. Power of entry and inspection.
- A Board, or Court, or any member thereof, or a conciliation officer, a Labour Court, Tribunal or National Tribunal, or any person authorised in writing by the Board, Court, Labour Court, Tribunal or National Tribunal in this behalf may, for the purposes of any conciliation, investigation, enquiry or adjudication entrusted to the Conciliation Officer, Board, Court, Labour Court, Tribunal or National Tribunal under the Act, at any time between the hours of sunrise and sunset and in the case of a person authorised in writing by a Board, Court, Labour Court, Tribunal or National Tribunal after he has given reasonable notice enter any building, factory, workshop, or other place or premises whatsoever, and inspect the same or any work, machinery, appliance or article therein or interrogate any person therein in respect of anything situated therein or any matter relevant to the subject-matter of the conciliation, investigation, enquiry or adjudication.24. Power of Boards, Courts, Labour Courts, Tribunals and National Tribunals.
- In addition to the powers conferred by the Act, Boards, Courts, Labour Courts, Tribunals and National Tribunals shall have the same powers as are vested in a Civil Court under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908), when trying a suit, in respect of the following matters, namely:-25. Assessors.
- Where assessors are appointed to advise a Tribunal or National Tribunal under sub-section (4) of section 7-A or sub-section (4) of section 7-B or by the Court, Labour Court, Tribunal or National Tribunal under sub-section (5) of section 11, the Court, Labour Court, Tribunal or National Tribunal as the case may be, shall, in relation to proceeding before it, obtain the advice of such assessors, but such advice shall not be binding on it.26. Fees for copies of awards or other documents of Labour Court, Tribunal or National Tribunal.
- [(1) Fees for making a copy of an award or an order of a Labour Court, Tribunal or National Tribunal of any document filed in any proceedings before a Labour Court, Tribunal or National Tribunal shall be charged at the rate of Re. 1 per page.] [ Substituted by G.S.R. 116, dated 3.2.1987.]27. Decision by majority.
- All questions arising for decision at any meeting of a Board or Court, save where the Court consists of one person, shall be decided by a majority of the votes of the members thereof (including the Chairman) present at the meeting. In the event of an equality of votes, the Chairman shall also have a casting vote.28. [ Correction of errors. [ Substituted by G.S.R. 1151, dated 11.10.1974.]
- A Board, Court, Labour Court, Tribunal, National Tribunal or Arbitrator may at any time correct any clerical mistake or error arising from an accidental slip or omission in any proceedings, report, award or decision either of its or his own motion or on application of any of the parties.]29. Right of representatives.
- The representatives of the parties appearing before a Board, Court, Labour Court, Tribunal or National Tribunal or an Arbitrator shall have the right of examination, cross-examination and of addressing the Board, Court, Labour Court, Tribunal or National Tribunal or Arbitrator when an evidence has been called.30. Proceedings before a Board, Court, Labour Court, Tribunal or National Tribunal.
- The proceedings before a Board, Court, Labour Court, Tribunal or National Tribunal shall be held in public: Provided that the Board, Court, Labour Court, Tribunal or National Tribunal may at any stage direct that any witness shall be examined or its proceedings shall be held in camera.Part IV – Remuneration Of Chairman And Members Of Courts, Presiding Officers Of Labour Courts, Tribunals And National Tribunals, Assessors And Witnesses
31. Travelling allowance.
- The Chairman or a member of a Board or Court or the Presiding Officer or an Assessor of a Labour Court, Tribunal or National Tribunal, if a non-official, shall be entitled to draw travelling allowance and halting allowance for any journey performed by him in connection with the performance of his duties, at the rates admissible and subject to the conditions applicable to a Government servant of the first grade under the Supplementary Rules issued by the Central Government from time to time.32. Fees.
- The Chairman and a member of a Board or Court, the Presiding Officer and an Assessor of a Labour Court, Tribunal or National Tribunal wherever he is not a salaried officer of Government may be granted such fees as may be sanctioned by the Central Government in each case.33. Expenses of witnesses.
- Every person who is summoned and duly attends or otherwise appears as a witness before a Board, Court, Labour Court, Tribunal or National Tribunal or an Arbitrator shall be entitled to an allowance for expenses according to the scale for the time being in force with respect to witnesses in Civil Courts in the State where the investigation, enquiry, adjudication or arbitration is being conducted.Part V – Notice Of Change
34. Notice of change.
- Any employer intending to effect any change in the conditions of service applicable to any workman in respect of any matter specified in the Fourth Schedule to the Act shall give notice of such intention in Form E.[The notice shall be displayed conspicuously by the employer on a notice board at the main entrance to the establishment in the Manager 's Office:Provided that where any registered trade union of workmen exists, a copy of the notice shall also be served by registered post on the secretary of such union.] [ Inserted by G.S.R. 402, dated 31.3.1960.][* * *] [ R. 35 omitted by G.S.R. 402, dated 31.3.1960.]Part VI – Representation Of Parties
36. Form of authority under section 36.
- The authority in favour of a person or persons to represent a workman or group of workmen or an employer in any proceeding under the Act shall be in Form F.37. Parties bound by acts of representative.
- A party appearing by a representative shall be bound by the acts of that representative.Part VII – Works Committee
38. Constitution.
- Any employer to whom an order made under sub-section (1) of section 3 relates shall forthwith proceed to constitute a Works Committee in the manner prescribed in this part.39. Number of members.
- The number of members constituting the Committee shall be fixed so as to afford representation to the various categories, groups and classes of workmen engaged in, and to the sections, shops or departments of the establishment:Provided that the total number of members shall not exceed twenty:Provided further that the number of representatives of the workmen shall not be less than the number of representatives of the employer.40. Representatives of employer.
- Subject to the provisions of these rules, the representatives of the employer shall be nominated by the employer and shall, as far as possible be officials in direct touch with or associated with the working of the establishment.41. Consultation with trade unions.
42. Group of workmen 's representatives.
- On receipt of the information called for under rule 41, the employer shall provide for the election of workmen 's representative on the Committee in two groups-43. Electoral constituencies.
- Where under rule 42 the workmen 's representatives are to be elected in two groups, the workmen entitled to vote shall be divided into two electoral constituencies, the one consisting of those who are members of a registered trade union and the other of those who are not:Provided that the employer may, if he thinks fit, sub-divide the [electoral constituency or constituencies, as the case may be] [ Substituted by G.S.R. 1253, dated 3.8.1966.] and direct that workmen shall vote in either by groups, sections, shops or departments.44. Qualifications of candidates for election.
- Any workman of not less than 19 years of age and with a service of not less than one year in the establishment may, if nominated as provided in these rules, be a candidate for election as a representative of the workmen on the Committee: Provided that the service qualification shall not apply to the first election in an [Explanation .-A workman who has put in a continuous service of not less than one year in two or more establishments belonging to the same employer shall be deemed to have satisfied the service qualification prescribed under this rule.] [ Added by G.S.R. 1078, dated 4.8.1962.]45. Qualifications for voters.
- All workmen [* * *] [ Certain words omitted by G.S.R. 1078, dated 4.8.1962.] who are not less than 18 years of age and who have put in not less than six months '[continuous service in the establishment shall be entitled to vote in the election of the representative of workmen.] [ Substituted by G.S.R. 1078, dated 4.8.1962.][Explanation .-A workman who has put in a continuous service of not less than six months in two or more establishments belonging to the same employer shall be deemed to have satisfied the service qualification prescribed under this rule.] [ Added by G.S.R. 1078, dated 4.8.1962.]46. Procedure for election.
47. Nomination of candidates for election.
48. Scrutiny of nomination papers.
49. Voting in election.
50. Arrangements for election.
- The employer shall be responsible for all arrangements in connection with the election.51. Officers of the Committee.
52. Term of office.
- [(1) The term of office of the representatives on the Committee other than a member chosen to fill a casual vacancy shall be two years.] [ Substituted by G.S.R. 1078, dated 4.8.1962.]53. [ Vacancies. [ Substituted by G.S.R. 1151, dated 11.10.1974.]
- In the event of workmen 's representative ceasing to be a member under sub-rule (3) of rule 52 or ceasing to be employed in the establishment or in the event of his ceasing to represent the trade or vocation he was representing, or resignation or death, his successor shall be elected in accordance with the provisions of this Part from the same category, group, section, shop or department to which the member vacating the seat belonged.]54. Power to co-opt.
- The Committee shall have the right to co-opt in a consultative capacity persons employed in the establishment having particular or special knowledge of a matter under discussion. Such co-opted member shall not be entitled to vote and shall be present at meetings only for the period during which the particular question is before the Committee.55. Meetings.
56. Facilities for meeting, etc.
- [(1)] [ Original R. 54 renumbered as sub-R. (1) by G.S.R. 1078, dated 4.8.1962.] The employer shall provide accommodation for holding meetings of the Committee. He shall also provide all necessary facilities to the Committee and to the members thereof for carrying out the work of the Committee. The Committee shall ordinarily meet during working hours of the establishment concerned on any working day and the representative of the workmen shall be deemed to be on duty while attending the meeting.56A. [ Annual returns. [Substituted by Notification No. G.S.R. 417 (E), dated 25.5.2015 (w.e.f. 10.3.1957).]
- Every employer shall on or before the 1st day of February in each year upload annual returns in Form G1 on the web portal of the Ministry of Labour and Employment giving information as to the particulars specified in respect of the preceding year.57. Dissolution of Works Committee.
- The Central Government, or where the power under section 3 has been delegated to any officer or authority under section 39, such officer or authority may, after making such inquiry as it or he may deem fit, dissolve any Works Committee at any time, by an order in writing, if he or it is satisfied that the Committee has not been constituted in accordance with these rules or that not less than two-thirds of the number of representatives of the workmen have, without any reasonable justification, failed to attend three consecutive meetings of the Committee or that the Committee has, for any other reason, ceased to function:Provided that where a Works Committee is dissolved under this rule the employer may, and if so required by the Central Government or, as the case may be, by such officer or authority, shall take steps to re-constitute the Committee in accordance with these rules.Part VIII – Miscellaneous
58. Memorandum of settlement.
59. Complaints regarding change of conditions of service, etc.
60. Application under section 33.
61. Protected workmen.
62. [ Application for recovery of dues. [Substituted by G.S.R. 488, dated 16.3.1965. ]
63. Appointment of Commissioner.
- Where it is necessary to appoint a Commissioner under sub-section (3) of section 33-C of the Act, the Labour Court may appoint a person with experience in the particular industry, trade or business involved in the industrial dispute or a person with experience as a Judge of a Civil Court, or as a Stipendiary Magistrate or as a Registrar or Secretary of a Labour Court, or Tribunal constituted under any Provincial Act or State Act or of a Labour Court, Tribunal or National Tribunal constituted under the Act or of the Labour Appellate Tribunal constituted under the Industrial Disputes (Appellate Tribunal) Act, 1950.64. Fees for the Commissioner, etc.
65. Time for submission of report.
66. Local investigation.
-In any industrial dispute in which the Labour Court deems a local investigation to be requisite or proper for the purpose of computing the money value of a benefit, the Labour Court may issue a commission to a person referred to in rule 63 directing him to make such investigation and to report thereon to it.67. Commissioner 's report.
68. Powers of Commissioner.
- Any Commissioner appointed under these rules may unless otherwise directed by the order of appointment-69. Summoning of witnesses, etc.
70. Representation of parties before the Commissioner.
- The parties to the Industrial Dispute shall appear before the Commissioner, either in person or by any other person who is competent to represent them in the proceedings before the Labour Court.[70-A. Preservation of records by the National Industrial Tribunals, Industrial Tribunals or Labour Courts. [ Inserted by G.S.R. 931, dated 15.7.1975.]| Records | Number of years for which the records shall be preserved |
| 1 | 2 |
| (i) Orders and judgments of National Industrial Tribunals | 10 years. |
| (ii) Exhibited documents in the above mentioned Tribunals or Court | 10 years |
| (iii) Other papers | 7 years. |