Authorities for Settlement - Industrial Disputes Act(1947), Industrial Laws | Industrial Laws - B Com PDF Download

The Industrial Dispute Act, 1947 makes provision for the investigation and settlement of disputes that may hamper the peace of the industry. It ensures harmony and cordial relationship between the employers and employees. The Act provides self-contained code to compel the parties to resort to industrial arbitration for the resolution of disputes. It also provides statutory norms besides helping in the maintaining of cordial relation among the employers and employees ,reflecting socio-economic justice. 
The act provides for the following authorities for Investigation and Settlement of industrial disputes:
(i) Works Committee
(ii) Conciliation Officer
(iii) Boards of Conciliation
(iv) Court of Inquiry
(v) Labour Court
(vi) Labour Tribunals
(vii) National Tribunals
Let us discuss these authorities in detail:

WORKS COMMITTEE (Section 3):

The works committee is a committee consisting of representatives of employers and workmen (section3). The works committee is a forum for explaining the difficulties of all the parties.The main objective of the works committee is to solve the problems arising in the day-to-day working of a concern and to secure industrial harmony. The function of the working committee is to ascertain the grievances of the employees and to arrive at some agreement. The committee is formed by general or special order by the appropriate Government in an industrial establishment in which 100 or more workmen are employed or have been employed on any day in the preceding 12 months. It consists of the representatives of employers and workmen engaged in the establishment.

It shall be the duty of the working committee to promote measures for securing and preserving amity and good relations between the employers and workmen and, to that end, to comment upon matters of their common interest or concern and to endeavour to compose any material difference of opinion in respect of such matters and decision of the works committees are not binding.


CONCILIATION OFFICER (Section 4):

For promoting and settlement of industrial disputes the appropriate Government may by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint such number of conciliation officer as it thinks fit. The main objective of appointing conciliation officer is to create congenial atmosphere within the industry and reconcile the disputes of the workers and the employers. He may be appointed for a specified area or for specified industries in a specified area or for one or more specified industries and either permanently or for a limited period.
The duty of the conciliation officer is not judicial but administrative. He has to hold conciliation proceedings, investigate the disputes and do all such things as he thinks fit for the purpose of inducing the parties to arrive at a fair settlement of the disputes. The conciliation officer is entitled to enter an establishment to which the dispute relates, after reasonable notice and also to call for and inspect any document which he consider relevant. He has to send a report and memorandum of settlement to appropriate Government. The report by the conciliation officer has to be submitted within 14 days of the commencement of the conciliation proceeding or shorter period as may be prescribed by the appropriate Government. The conciliation officer has the power to enter the premises as well can call for and inspect documents.


BOARDS OF CONCILIATION (Section 5):

The appropriate Government may by notification in the Official Gazette, constitute a Board of Conciliation for the settlement of industrial disputes. The Board shall consist of a chairman and 2 or 4 other members in equal numbers representing the parties to the disputes as the appropriate Government thinks fit. The Chairman shall be an independent person. A person is “independent” for the purpose of appointment to a Board, Court or Tribunal if he is uncommitted with the dispute or with any industry directly affected by such dispute. He may be a shareholder of a company connected with or likely to be affected by such disputes. But in such a case he must disclose to the Government the nature and intent of his share [Section 2(i)]. Where the appropriate Government is of the opinion that any industrial disputes exist in an industry, it may refer by order in writing to the Board of Conciliation for settling industrial disputes.

The Board of Conciliation has to bring about a settlement of the dispute. He has to send a report and memorandum of settlement to appropriate Government. He has to send a full report to the Appropriate Government setting for the steps taken by the Board in case no settlement is arrived at. The Board of Conciliation has to communicate the reasons to the parties if no further reference is made. The Board has to submit its report within 2 months of the date on which the dispute was referred to it within the period what the appropriate Government may think fit. The report of the Board shall be in writing and shall be signed by all the members of the Board.


COURT OF INQUIRY (Section 6): 

The appropriate Government may by notification in the Official Gazette, constitute a court of inquiry into any matter appearing to be connected with or relevant to settlement of industrial disputes having an independent person or of such independent persons as the appropriate Government may think fit. The court consists of two or more members one of whom shall be appointed by the Chairman. Within a period of 6 months, the court has to send a report thereon to the appropriate Government from the commencement of its any inquiry. This period is not mandatory and it may be extend.
It has the same powers as are vested in a Civil Court under the Code of Civil Procedure 1908, in the following matters—
a. enforcing the attendance of any person and examining him on oath,
b. compelling the production of documents and material objects,
c. issuing commissions for the examination of witnesses,
d. in respect of such other matters as may be prescribed.

The report of the Court must be signed by all the members. A member can submit a note of dissent. The Report together with the dissenting note must be published by the appropriate Government within 30 days from its report. A court of enquiry has no power to improve any settlement upon the parties.


LABOUR COURT (Section 7):

The appropriate Government may by notification in the Official Gazette, constitute one or more labour court for adjudication of industrial disputes relating to any matters specified in the Second Schedule. A labour court consists of one person only to be appointed by the appropriate Government.
The main function of the labour court is to hold its proceedings expeditiously and submit its award as the proceeding concludes.
A person shall be presiding officer of a labour court unless—
a. he is or has been, a Judge of the High court,
b. he has for a period of not less than three years, been a District Judge or an Additional District Judge or
c. he has held any judicial office in India for not less than seven years; or
d. he has been the presiding officer of a Labour Court constituted under any provincial Act or State Act for not less than five years.
e. He must be an “ independent “ person and must not have attained the age of 65 years.


LABOUR TRIBUNALS (Section 7- A):

The appropriate Government may by notification in the Official Gazette, constitute one or more Industrial Tribunals for adjudication of industrial disputes. A Tribunal shall consist of one person to be appointed by the appropriate Government. The Appropriate Government may appoint two persons as assessors to advise the Tribunel. The person shall be not qualified unless—
a. he is, a Judge of the High court,
b.. he has for a period of not less than three years, been a District Judge or an Additional District Judge.
c. The appropriate Government may, if it so thinks fit, may appoint two persons as assessors to advise the Tribunal in the proceeding before it.
The functions of the Tribunals are very much like those of a body discharging judicial functions, although it is not a Court. Its power is different from that of a Civil Court. The proceedings before an Industrial Tribunal are quasi-judicial in nature with all the attributes of a Court of Justice. The Government is empowered under Section 7-A of the Act to constitute for a limited time which comes to an end automatically on the expiry of the said period for any particular case. The duties of Industrial Tribunal are identical with the duties of Labour Court, i.e. on reference of any industrial disputes; the Tribunal shall hold its proceedings expeditiously and submit its award to the appropriate Government. 


NATIONAL TRIBUNALS ( Section 7 B)

The Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, constitute one or more National Industrial Tribunals for the adjudication of industrial disputes. National Industrial Tribunals are involve only incase of the questions of national importance or if they are of such a nature that industrial establishments situated in more than one State are likely to be interested in, or affected by, such industrial disputes. It consists of one person only to be appointed by the Central Government.The person shall not be qualified for appointment as the presiding officer unless he is, or has been, a Judge of a High Court. Beside these, the Central Government may, if it thinks fit, appoint two persons as assessors to advise the National Tribunal in the proceedings before it.