Labour Code Advisor

Section 21. Procedure in trial of offences.

(1) No Court shall take cognizance of a complaint against any person for an offence under sub-section (1) of section 20 unless an application in respect of the facts constituting the offence has been presented under section 15 has been granted wholly or in part and the authority empowered under the latter section or the appellate Court granting such application has sanctioned the making of the complaint.

(2) Before sanctioning the making of a complaint against any person for an offence under sub-section (1) of section 20, the authority empowered under section 15 or the appellate Court, as the case may be, shall give such person an opportunity of showing cause against the granting of such sanction, and the sanction shall not be granted if such person satisfies the authority or Court that his default was due to—

(a) abona fide error or bona fide dispute as to the amount payable to the employed person, or

(b) the occurrence of an emergency or the existence of exceptional circumstances, such that the person responsible for the payment of the wages was unable, though exercising reasonable diligence, to make prompt payment, or

(c) the failure of the employed person to apply for or accept payment.

(3) No Court shall take cognizance of a contravention of section 4 or of section 6 or of a contravention of any rules made under section 26 except on a complaint made by or with the sanction of an Inspector under this Act.

5[(3A) No Court shall take cognizance of any offence punishable under sub-section (3) or sub-section (4) of section 20 except on a complaint made by or with the sanction of an Inspector under this Act.]

(4) In imposing any fine for an offence under sub-section (1) of section 20 the court shall take into consideration the amount of any compensation already awarded against the accused in any proceedings taken under section 15.

STATE AMENDMENTS

Karnataka

Amendment of section 21.—In section 21 of the principal Act,—

(1) in sub-section (1), for the words “and the authority empowered under the latter section or the Appellate Court granting such application”, the words “by the authority or the Appellate Court or the State Government or any Officer authorised by it in this behalf” shall be substituted;

(2) in sub-section (2) for the words and figures “the authority empowered under section 15 or the Appellate Court”, the words “the State Government or the officer authorised by it in this behalf” shall be substituted.

[Vide Karnataka Act 2 of 1977, s. 8].

View Act Footnotes

Note: In the legacy archives, footnotes are grouped by original PDF page numbers rather than by section.

Page 3

  • 1. The Act has been extended to Goa, Daman and Diu by Reg. 12 of 1962, s. 3 and the Schedule to Dadra and Nagar Haveli byReg. 6 of 1963, s. 2 and the First Schedule to Pondicherry by Reg. 7 of 1963, s. 3 and the First Schedule and to Lakshadweepby Reg. 8 of 1965, s. 3 and the Schedule.
  • 2. Subs. by Act 38 of 1982, s. 2 for “persons employed in industry” (w.e.f. 15-10-1982).
  • 3. Subs. by the A.O. 1950, for sub-section (2).
  • 4. The words “except the State of Jammu and Kashmir” omitted by Act 51 of 1970, s. 2 and the Schedule (w.e.f. 1-9-1971).
  • 5. 28th March 1937, see Gazette of India, 1937, Pt. I, pg. 626.
  • 6. Subs. by Act 38 of 1982, s. 3, for “factory and to persons” (w.e.f. 15-10-1982).
  • 7. Ins. by s. 3, ibid. (w.e.f. 15-10-1982).
  • 8. Subs. by Act 41 of 2005, s. 3, for “the State Government” (w.e.f. 9-11-2005).
  • 9. Subs. by Act 68 of 1957, s. 2, for “the Act” (w.e.f. 1-4-1958.)10. Subs. by Act 38 of 1982, s. 3, for “any industrial establishment or in any class or group of industrial establishments”(w.e.f. 15-10-1982).11. Subs. by Act 41 of 2005, s. 3, for “the Central Government or a State Government” (w.e.f. 9-11-2005).12. Subs. by Act 38 of 1982, s. 3, for the proviso (w.e.f. 15-10-1982).13. Subs. by Act 41 of 2005, s. 2, for sub-section (6) (w.e.f. 9-11-2005).14. Subs. by S.O. 2806 (E), dated 28-8-2017, for “eighteen thousand rupees”, see Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, s. 3(ii).15. Ins. by s. 4, ibid. (w.e.f. 9-11-2005).

Page 4

  • 1. Subs. by Act 53 of 1964, s. 3, for clause (i) (w.e.f. 1-2-1965).
  • 2. Clauses (i), (ia) and (ib) renumbered as clauses (ia), (ib) and (ic) thereof by Act 41 of 2005, s. 4 (w.e.f. 9-11-2005).
  • 3. Subs. by Act 38 of 1982, s. 4, for „ “industrial establishment” means‟ (w.e.f. 15-10-1982).
  • 4. Subs. by Act 53 of 1964, s. 3, for sub-clause (a) (w.e.f. 1-2-1965).
  • 5. Subs. by Act 68 of 1957, s. 3, for item (c) (w.e.f. 1-4-1958.)
  • 6. Ins. by s. 3, ibid. (w.e.f. 1-4-1958.)
  • 7. Ins. by Act 38 of 1982, s. 4 (w.e.f. 15-10-1982).
  • 8. Subs. by Act 41 of 2005, s. 3, for “the Central Government or a State Government” (w.e.f. 9-11-2005).
  • 9. Ins. by Act 53 of 1964, s. 3 (w.e.f. 1-2-1965).10. Subs. by s. 3, ibid., for clause (iii) (w.e.f. 1-2-1965).11. Subs. by Act 41 of 2005, s. 4, for clause (v) (w.e.f. 9-11-2005).

Page 5

  • 1. Subs. by Act 68 of 1957, s. 3, for clause (vi) (w.e.f. 1-4-1958.)
  • 2. Subs. by Act 41 of 2005, s. 3, for “the State Government” (w.e.f. 9-11-2005).
  • 3. Subs. by s. 5, ibid.,for section 3 (w.e.f. 9-11-2005).

Page 6

  • 1. Subs. by Act 38 of 1982, s. 6, for “industrial establishment” (w.e.f. 15-10-1982).
  • 2. Added by Act 53 of 1964, s. 5 (w.e.f. 1-2-1965).
  • 3. Subs. by Act 41 of 2005, s. 3, for “the State Government” (w.e.f. 9-11-2005).
  • 4. Ins. by Act 53 of 1964, s. 5 (w.e.f. 1-2-1965).
  • 5. Subs. by Act 41 of 2005, s. 3, for “the Central Government or a State Government” (w.e.f. 9-11-2005).
  • 6. Subs. by Act 53 of 1964, s. 5, for “All payments” (w.e.f. 1-2-1965).

Page 7

  • 1. Subs. by Act 1 of 2017, s. 2, for section 6 (w.e.f. 28-12-2016).
  • 2. Subs. by Act 41 of 2005, s. 6, for “sub-section (2) of section 47 of the Indian Railways Act, 1890 (9 of 1890)” (w.e.f. 9-11-2005).
  • 3. Explanation renumbered as Explanation I thereof by Act 68 of 1957, s. 5 (w.e.f. 1-4-1958).
  • 4. Ins. by s. 5, ibid. (w.e.f. 1-4-1958).
  • 5. Subs. by Act 41 of 2005, s. 3, for “the State Government” (w.e.f. 9-11-2005).
  • 6. Subs. by Act 68 of 1957, s. 5, for clause (d) (w.e.f. 1-4-1958).
  • 7. The words “Governor-General in Council or” omitted by the A.O. 1937.
  • 8. Ins. by Act 53 of 1964, s. 6 (w.e.f. 1-2-1965).
  • 9. Subs. by Act 56 of 1974, s. 3 and the Second Schedule, for “this sub-clause” (w.e.f. 20-12-1974).

Page 8

  • 1. Subs. by Act 53 of 1964, s. 6, for clause (f) (w.e.f. 1-2-1965).
  • 2. Subs. by Act 41 of 2005, s. 3, for “the State Government” (w.e.f. 9-11-2005).
  • 3. Subs. by s. 6, ibid., for “in section 58A of the Indian Income-tax Act, 1922” (w.e.f. 9-11-2005).
  • 4. The word “and” omitted by Ordinance 3 of 1940, s. 2.
  • 5. Ins. by Act 42 of 1971, s. 6 (w.e.f. 4-12-1971).
  • 6. Ins. by Act 53 of 1964, s. 6 (w.e.f. 1-2-1965).
  • 7. Added by Ordinance 3 of 1940, s. 2
  • 8. Subs. by Act 68 of 1957, s. 5, for clause (k) (w.e.f. 1-4-1958).
  • 9. Ins. by Act 38 of 1982, s. 7 (w.e.f. 15-10-1982).

Page 9

  • 1. Ins. by Act 53 of 1964, s. 6 (w.e.f. 1-2-1965).
  • 2. Ins. by Act 29 of 1976, s. 4 (w.e.f. 12-11-1975).
  • 3. Ins. by Act 19 of 1977, s. 2 (w.e.f. 30-6-1977).
  • 4. Ins. by Act 53 of 1964, s. 6 (w.e.f. 1-2-1965).
  • 5. Subs. by Act 41 of 2005, s. 6, for “the Indian Railways Act, 1890” (w.e.f. 9-11-2005).

Page 11

  • 1. Subs. byAct 41 of 2005, s. 3, for “the State Government” (w.e.f. 9-11-2005).
  • 2. Subs. by Act 38 of 1982, s. 8, for “half-an-anna in the rupee” (w.e.f. 15-10-1982).
  • 3. Subs. by Act 41 of 2005, s. 7, for “sixty days” (w.e.f. 9-11-2005).
  • 4. Subs. by Act 38 of 1982, s. 8, for “industrial establishment” (w.e.f. 15-10-1982).
  • 5. Subs. by Act 41 of 2005, s. 3, for “the State Government” (w.e.f. 9-11-2005).
  • 6. Added by Act 22 of 1937, s. 2 (w.e.f. 14-4-1937).

Page 12

  • 1. Subs. by Act 53 of 1964, s. 7, for sub-section (1) (w.e.f. 1-2-1965).
  • 2. The words “the Governor-General in Council or” omitted by the A.O. 1937.
  • 3. Subs. by Act 41 of 2005, s. 3, for “the State Government” (w.e.f. 9-11-2005).
  • 4. Ins. by Act 53 of 1964, s. 8 (w.e.f. 1-2-1965).
  • 5. Ins. by s. 9, ibid. (w.e.f. 1-2-1965).
  • 6. Ins. by Ordinance 3 of 1940, s. 3.

Page 13

  • 1. Ins. by Act 53 of 1964, s. 10 (w.e.f. 1-2-1965).
  • 2. Subs. by Act 68 of 1957, s. 6, for “sub-section (1) of section 10 of the Factories Act, 1934” (w.e.f. 1-4-1958).
  • 3. Subs. by Act 41 of 2005, s. 3, for “the State Government” (w.e.f. 9-11-2005)
  • 4. Subs. by Act 38 of 1982, s. 9, for “industrial establishments” (w.e.f. 15-10-1982).
  • 5. Subs. by Act 53 of 1964, s. 11, for sub-section (4) (w.e.f. 1-2-1965).
  • 6. Subs. by Act 38 of 1982, s. 9, for “industrial establishment” (w.e.f. 15-10-1982).
  • 7. Subs. by s. 9, ibid., for “Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898” (w.e.f. 15-10-1982).
  • 8. Subs. by s. 9, ibid.,for “section 98” (w.e.f. 15-10-1982).

Page 14

  • 1. Ins. by Act 53 of 1964, s. 12 (w.e.f. 1-2-1965).
  • 2. Subs. by Act 41 of 2005, s. 8, for sub-section (1) (w.e.f. 9-11-2005).
  • 3. Subs. by Act 53 of 1964, s. 13, for “six months” (w.e.f. 1-2-1965).
  • 4. Subs. by Act 41 of 2005, s. 8, for sub-section (3) (w.e.f. 9-11-2005).

Page 15

  • 1. Subs. by Act 53 of 1964, s. 13, for sub-section (4) (w.e.f. 1-2-1965).
  • 2. Subs. by Act 41 of 2005, s. 8, for “not exceeding fifty rupees” (w.e.f. 9-11-2005).
  • 3.Subs. by s. 3, ibid., for “the State Government” (w.e.f. 9-11-2005).

Page 16

  • 1. Ins. by Act 53 of 1964, s. 14 (w.e.f. 1-2-1965).
  • 2. Subs. by s. 14, ibid., for “the maximum compensation that may be awarded under sub-section (3) of section 15 shall be tenrupees per head” (w.e.f. 1-2-1965).
  • 3. Subs. by Act 68 of 1957, s. 7, for “An appeal against a direction made under sub-section (3) or sub-section (4) of section 15”(w.e.f. 1-4-1958).
  • 4. Subs. by s. 7,ibid., for “the direction” (w.e.f. 1-4-1958).
  • 5. The words “or in Rangoon” omitted by the A.O. 1937.

Page 17

  • 1. Ins. by Act 53 of 1964, s. 15 (w.e.f. 1-2-1965).
  • 2. Subs. by s.15, ibid., for clause (b) (w.e.f. 1-2-1965).
  • 3. Subs. by Act 20 of 1937, s. 2 and the First Schedule, for “sub-section (5) (w.e.f. 14-4-1937).
  • 4. Subs. by Act 68 of 1957, s. 7, for sub-section (2) (w.e.f. 1-4-1958).
  • 5. Ins. by Act 53 of 1964, s. 15 (w.e.f. 1-2-1965).
  • 6. Ins. by Act 68 of 1957, s. 8 (w.e.f. 1-4-1958).
  • 7. Subs. by Act 53 of 1964, s. 16, for “any official of a registered trade union authorised in writing to act on his behalf"”(w.e.f. 1-2-1965).

Page 18

  • 1. Subs. by Act 38 of 1982, s. 10, for “Chapter XXVI of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973” (w.e.f. 15-10-1982).
  • 2. Subs. by Act 53 of 1964, s. 18, for “section 5 and sections 7 to 13” (w.e.f. 1-2-1965).
  • 3. Subs. by Act 41 of 2005, s. 9, for “with fine which shall not be less than two hundred rupees but which may extend to onethousand rupees” (w.e.f. 9-11-2005).
  • 4. Subs. by Act 53 of 1964, s.18, for “section 6” (w.e.f. 1-2-1965).
  • 5. Subs. by Act 41 of 2005, s. 9, for “with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees” (w.e.f. 9-11-2005).
  • 6. Ins. by Act 41 of 2005, s. 9 (w.e.f. 9-11-2005).
  • 7. Ins. by Act 53 of 1964, s.18 (w.e.f. 1-2-1965).

Page 19

  • 1. Subs. by Act 38 of 1982, s. 11, for “industrial establishment” (w.e.f. 15-10-1982).
  • 2. Subs. by Act 41 of 2005, s. 9, for “with fine which shall not be less than two hundred rupees but which may extend to onethousand rupees” (w.e.f. 9-11-2005).
  • 3. Subs. by s. 9, ibid., for “with fine which shall not be less than five hundred rupees but which may extend to three thousandrupees” (w.e.f. 9-11-2005).
  • 4. Subs. by s. 9, ibid.,for “one hundred rupees” (w.e.f. 9-11-2005).
  • 5. Ins. by Act 53 of 1964, s.19 (w.e.f. 1-2-1965).

Page 20

  • 1. Ins. by Act 53 of 1964, s. 20(w.e.f. 1-2-1965).
  • 2. Subs. by Act 41 of 2005, s. 10, for section 24 (w.e.f. 9-11-2005).

Page 21

  • 1. Subs. by Act 38 of 1982, s. 12, for “employed in a factory” (w.e.f. 15-10-1982).
  • 2. Subs. by s. 12, ibid., for “displayed in such factory” (w.e.f. 15-10-1982).
  • 3. Subs. by s. 12, ibid.,for “in the factory” (w.e.f. 15-10-1982).
  • 4. Ins. by s. 13, ibid. (w.e.f. 15-10-1982).
  • 5. Subs. by Act 41 of 2005, s. 3, for “the State Government” (w.e.f. 9-11-2005).
  • 6. The words “subject to the control of the Governor-General in Council,” omitted by the A.O. 1937.
  • 7. Subs. by Act 53 of 1964, s. 22, for “and prescribed the form thereof” (w.e.f. 1-2-1965).

Page 22

  • 1. Ins. by Act 53 of 1964, s. 22 (w.e.f. 1-2-1965).
  • 2. The word “and” omitted by Act 53 of 1964, s. 22 (w.e.f. 1-2-1965).
  • 3. The word “and” omitted by Act 38 of 1982, s. 14 (w.e.f. 15-10-1982).
  • 4. Ins. by s. 14, ibid. (w.e.f. 15-10-1982).
  • 5. Subs. by Act 41 of 2005, s. 3, for “the State Government” (w.e.f. 9-11-2005).
  • 6. Subs. by s. 11, ibid.,for “which may extend to two hundred rupees” (w.e.f. 9-11-2005).
  • 7. Subs. by Act 38 of 1982, s. 14, for “two successive sessions” (w.e.f. 15-10-1982).
  • 8. Subs. by s. 14, ibid.,for “in which it is so laid or the session immediately following” (w.e.f. 15-10-1982).
  • 9. Ins. by Act 41 of 2005, s. 11 (w.e.f. 9-11-2005).
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