Wednesday, March 14, 2012

THE TRADE UNIONS ACT, 1926


 THE TRADE UNIONS ACT, 1926 
 ACT NO. 16 OF 1926*1
 [25th March, 1926.]
 An Act  to provide for the registration of Trade Unions and in certain
 respects to define the law relating to registered Trade Unions 2***.
      WHEREAS it  is expedient to provide for the registration of Trade
 Unions  and  in  certain  respects  to  define  the  law  relating  to
 registered Trade Unions 2***; It is hereby enacted as follows:--
 CHAP
 PRELIMINARY
                               CHAPTER I
                              PRELIMINARY
 1.
 Short title, extent and commencement.
      1. Short  title, extent  and commencement.- (1) This  Act may  be
 called the 3*** Trade Unions Act, 1926.
      4*[(2) It extends to the whole of India 5*** .]
      (3) It  shall come  into force  on such  date 6*** as the Central
 Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint.
 2.
 Definitions.
      2. Definitions.- In  this  Act  7*[`the  appropriate  Government'
 means, in  relation to  Trade Unions whose objects are not confined to
 one State,  the Central  Government, and  in relation  to other  Trade
 Unions, the State Government, and], unless there is anything repugnant
 in the subject or context,--
 
           (a) "executive"  means the body, by whatever name called, to
                which the management of the affairs of a Trade Union is
                entrusted;
           (b) "8*[office-bearer]",  in the  case  of  a  Trade  Union,
                includes any  member of the executive thereof, but does
                not include an auditor;
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
 1.   This Act  has been  extended to  Goa. Daman and Diu by Reg. 12 of
      1962; to  Pondicherry (w.e.f. 1-10-1963) by  Reg. 7  of 1963  and
      to Laccadive, Minicoy and Amindivi Islands by  Reg. 8 of 1965, s.
      3 and Sch.
 
       Amended in Madhya Pradesh by M.P.  Act 16 of 1968.
       Amended in Maharashtra by Mrh.  Act 30 of 1968.
 2.   The words "in the Provinces of India" omitted by Act 42 of  1960,
      s.  2.
 3.   The word "Indian"  omitted  by  Act  38  of  1964,  s.  3 (w.e.f.
      1-4-1965). 2
 4.   Subs.  by the A.  O.  1950, for sub-section (2).
 5.   The words "except the State of Jammu and Kashmir" omitted by Act
      51 of 1970, s.  2 and Sch.  (w.e.f.  1-9-1971).
 6.   1st June, 1927; see Gazette of India, 1927, Pt.  I, p.  467.
 7.   Ins.  by the A.  O.  1937.
 8.   Subs. by Act 38 of 1964, s.  2, for "officer" (w.e.f.  1-4-1965).
 
 52
           (c) "prescribed"  means prescribed by regulations made under
                this Act;
           (d) "registered  office" means  that office of a Trade Union
                which is  registered under  this Act as the head office
                thereof;
           (e) "registered  Trade Union" means a Trade Union registered
                under this Act;
           1*[(f) "Registrar" means--
                     (i) a  Registrar of  Trade Unions appointed by the
                appropriate Government  under section  3, and  includes
                any Additional or Deputy Registrar of Trade Unions; and
                     (ii) in relation to any Trade Union, the Registrar
                appointed for the State in which the head or registered
                office, as  the case  may be,  of the  Trade  Union  is
                situated ;]
 
           (g) "trade  dispute" means any dispute between employers and
                workmen or  between workmen  and  workmen,  or  between
                employers and  employers which  is connected  with  the
                employment  or   non-employment,  or   the   terms   of
                employment or  the conditions of labour, of any person,
                and "workmen"  means all  persons employed  in trade or
                industry whether  or  not  in  the  employment  of  the
                employer with whom the trade dispute arises; and
 
           (h) "Trade  Union" means  any combination, whether temporary
                or permanent,  formed  primarily  for  the  purpose  of
                regulating the  relations between workmen and employers
                or between  workmen and  workmen, or  between employers
                and employers,  or for  imposing restrictive conditions
                on the  conduct of  any trade or business, and includes
                any federation of two or more Trade Unions:
 
      Provided that this Act shall not affect--
           (i) any agreement between partners as to their own business;
           (ii) any agreement between an employer and those employed by
                him as to such employment; or
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
 1.   Subs. by Act 42 of 1960, s. 3, for cl. (f).
 53
           (iii) any  agreement in  consideration of  the sale  of  the
                good-will of  a  business  or  of  instruction  in  any
                profession, trade or handicraft.
 CHAP
 REGISTRATION OF TRADE UNIONS
                               CHAPTER II
                      REGISTRATION OF TRADE UNIONS
  3
 
 3.
 Appointment of Registrars.
      3.  Appointment  of   Registrars.- 1*[(1)]   2*[The   appropriate
 Government] shall appoint a person to be the Registrar of Trade Unions
 for 3*[each State].
      4*[(2) The  appropriate Government may appoint as many Additional
 and Deputy Registrars of Trade Unions as it thinks fit for the purpose
 of exercising and discharging, under the superintendence and direction
 of the  Registrar, such  powers and  functions of  the Registrar under
 this Act  as it  may, by  order, specify  and define  the local limits
 within which  any such  Additional or  Deputy Registrar shall exercise
 and discharge the powers and functions so specified.
 
      (3) Subject to the provisions of any order under sub-section (2),
 where an  Additional or  Deputy Registrar exercises and discharges the
 powers and  functions of  a Registrar  in an  area  within  which  the
 registered office  of a  Trade Union  is situated,  the Additional  or
 Deputy Registrar  shall be  deemed to  be the Registrar in relation to
 the Trade Union for the purposes of this Act.]
 4.
 Mode of registration.
      4. Mode  of registration.- 5*[(1)] Any seven or more members of a
 Trade Union  may, by subscribing their names to the rules of the Trade
 Union and  by otherwise complying with the provisions of this Act with
 respect to  registration, apply  for registration  of the  Trade Union
 under this Act.
 
      6*[(2) Where  an application  has been made under sub-section (1)
 for the  registration of  a Trade Union, such application shall not be
 deemed to  have become  invalid merely  by reason of the fact that, at
 any  time   after  the   date  of  the  application,  but  before  the
 registration of  the Trade  Union, some  of the  applicants,  but  not
 exceeding  half   of  the   total  number  of  persons  who  made  the
 application,
 
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
 1.   S. 3 re-numbered as sub-section (1) thereof by Act  42  of  1960,
      s. 4.
 2.   Subs. by the A. O. 1937, for "Each L. G.".
 3.   Subs., ibid., for "the Province".
 4.   Ins. by Act 42 of 1960, s. 4.
 5.   S. 4 re-numbered as sub-section (1) thereof by s. 5, ibid.
 6.   Ins. by s. 5, ibid.
 
 54
 have ceased  to be  members of the Trade Union or have given notice in
 writing  to   the   Registrar   dissociating   themselves   from   the
 application.]
 5.
 Application for registration.
      5.  Application  for  registration.- (1)  Every  application  for
 registration of  a Trade  Union shall  be made  to the  Registrar, and
 shall be  accompanied by  a copy of the rules of the Trade Union and a
 statement of the following particulars, namely:--
 
           (a) the  names, occupations  and addresses  of  the  members
                making the application; 4
 
           (b) the  name of the Trade Union and the address of its head
                office; and
           (c) the  titles, names,  ages, addresses  and occupations of
                the 1*[office-bearers] of the Trade Union.
      (2) Where  a Trade  Union has been in existence for more than one
 year before  the making  of an application for its registration, there
 shall be  delivered to the Registrar, together with the application, a
 general statement  of the  assets and  liabilities of  the Trade Union
 prepared in  such form  and containing  such  particulars  as  may  be
 prescribed.
 6.
 Provisions to be contained in the rules of a Trade Union.
      6. Provisions  to be  contained in the rules of a Trade Union.- A
 Trade Union  shall not  be entitled  to registration  under this  Act,
 unless the  executive thereof  is constituted  in accordance  with the
 provisions of  this  Act,  and  the  rules  thereof  provide  for  the
 following matters, namely:--
 
           (a) the name of the Trade Union;
           (b) the  whole of  the objects for which the Trade Union has
                been established;
           (c) the whole of the purposes for which the general funds of
                the Trade  Union shall  be  applicable,  all  of  which
                purposes shall  be purposes  to which  such  funds  are
                lawfully applicable under this Act;
 
           (d) the  maintenance of  a list  of the members of the Trade
                Union  and   adequate  facilities  for  the  inspection
                thereof by  the 1*[office-bearers]  and members  of the
                Trade Union;
 
           (e) the  admission of  ordinary members who shall be persons
                actually engaged  or employed in an industry with which
                the Trade Union is connected, and also the admission of
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
 1.   Subs. by Act 38 of 1964, s. 2, for "officers" (w.e.f. 1-4-1965).
 55
                the  number   of  honorary   or  temporary  members  as
                1*[office-bearers] required  under section  22 to  form
                the executive of the Trade Union;
           2*[(ee) the  payment of  a subscription  by members  of  the
                Trade Union  which shall  be not  less than twenty-five
                naye paise per month per member ;]
           (f) the  conditions under which any member shall be entitled
                to any benefit assured by the rules and under which any
                fine or forfeiture may be imposed on the members;
           (g) the  manner in  which the rules shall be amended, varied
                or rescinded;
           (h) the manner in which the members of the executive and the
                other 1*[office-bearers]  of the  Trade Union  shall be
                appointed and removed;
           (i) the  safe custody  of the  funds of  the Trade Union, an
                annual audit,  in such  manner as may be prescribed, of
                the accounts  thereof, and  adequate facilities for the 5
                inspection of  the  account  books  by  the  1*[office-
                bearers] and members of the Trade Union; and
 
           (j) the manner in which the Trade Union may be dissolved.
 7.
 Power to  call for  further particulars and to  require alteration
ofname.
      7. Power  to   call  for   further  particulars  and  to  require
 alteration of  name.-   (1)  The  Registrar  may  call   for   further
 information for the purpose of satisfying himself that any application
 complies  with the provisions of section 5, or that the Trade Union is
 entitled to registration under section 6, and may refuse  to  register
 the Trade Union until such information is supplied.
 
      (2) If  the name  under which  a Trade  Union is  proposed to  be
 registered is  identical with  that by  which any other existing Trade
 Union has  been registered  or, in  the opinion  of the  Registrar, so
 nearly resembles  such name  as to  be likely to deceive the public or
 the members  of either  Trade Union,  the Registrar  shall require the
 persons applying for registration to alter the name of the Trade Union
 stated in  the application,  and shall  refuse to  register the  Union
 until such alteration has been made.
 8.
 Registration.
      8. Registration.-The Registrar, on being satisfied that the Trade
 Union has  complied with all the requirements of this Act in regard to
 registration,  shall  register  the  Trade  Union  by  entering  in  a
 register, to
 
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
 1.   Subs. by Act 38 of 1964, s. 2, for "officers" (w.e.f. 1-4-1965).
 2.   Ins. by Act 42 of 1960, s. 6.
 56
 be maintained  in such  form as  may be  prescribed,  the  particulars
 relating to  the Trade  Union contained  in the statement accompanying
 the application for registration.
 9.
 Certificate of registration.
      9. Certificate  of registration.- The Registrar, on registering a
 Trade Union under section 8, shall issue a certificate of registration
 in the  prescribed form  which shall  be conclusive  evidence that the
 Trade Union has been duly registered under this Act.
 10.
 Cancellation of registration.
      10. Cancellation  of registration.- A certificate of registration
 of a Trade Union may be withdrawn or cancelled by the Registrar--
           (a) on  the application of the Trade Union to be verified in
                such manner as may be prescribed, or
           (b) if  the Registrar  is satisfied that the certificate has 6
                been obtained  by fraud  or mistake,  or that the Trade
                Union has  ceased to  exist or  has wilfully  and after
                notice from  the Registrar contravened any provision of
                this Act or allowed any rule to continue in force which
                is  inconsistent   with  any  such  provision,  or  has
                rescinded any  rule providing  for any matter provision
                for which is required by section 6:
 
      Provided that  not less  than  two  months'  previous  notice  in
 writing specifying  the ground  on which it is proposed to withdraw or
 cancel the  certificate shall  be given  by the Registrar to the Trade
 Union before  the certificate is withdrawn or cancelled otherwise than
 on the application of the Trade Union.
 11.
 Appeal.
      1*[11. Appeal.- (1) Any  person aggrieved  by any  refusal of the
 Registrar  to   register  a  Trade  Union  or  by  the  withdrawal  or
 cancellation of  a certificate of registration may, within such period
 as may be prescribed, appeal,--
 
           (a) where  the head  office of  the Trade  Union is situated
               within the limits of a Presidency-town 2***, to the High
               Court, or
           (b) where  the head office is situated in any other area, to
                such Court,  not inferior to the Court of an additional
                or assistant  Judge  of  a  principal  Civil  Court  of
                original   jurisdiction,    as    the    3*[appropriate
                Government] may appoint in this behalf for that area.
 
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
 1.   Subs. by Act 15 of 1928, s. 2, for the original section.
 2.   The words "or of Rangoon" omitted by the A. O. 1937.
 3.   Subs., ibid., for "L. G.".
 
 57
      (2) The  appellate Court may dismiss the appeal, or pass an order
 directing  the  Registrar  to  register  the  Union  and  to  issue  a
 certificate of  registration under  the provisions  of  section  9  or
 setting  aside  the  order  for  withdrawal  or  cancellation  of  the
 certificate, as  the case  may be, and the Registrar shall comply with
 such order.
 
      (3) For  the purpose  of  an  appeal  under  sub-section  (1)  an
 appellate Court shall, so far as may be, follow the same procedure and
 have the  same powers  as it  follows and has when trying a suit under
 the Code  of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908), and may direct by whom
 the whole  or any  part of  the costs of the appeal shall be paid, and
 such costs  shall be  recovered as  if they had been awarded in a suit
 under the said Code.
 
      (4) In  the event  of the  dismissal of  an appeal  by any  Court
 appointed under  clause (b)  of sub-section  (1), the person aggrieved
 shall have  a right  of appeal  to the  High Court, and the High Court
 shall, for  the purpose  of such  appeal, have  all the  powers of  an
 appellate Court  under sub-sections (2) and (3), and the provisions of
 those sub-sections shall apply accordingly.]
 12.
 Registered office.
      12. Registered office.- All communications Union may be addressed
 to its  registered office.  Notice of any change in the address of the
 head office  shall be given within fourteen days of such change to the 7
 Registrar in writing, and the changed address shall be recorded in the
 register referred to in section 8.
 13.
 Incorporation of registered Trade Unions.
      13. Incorporation of registered  Trade Unions.-  Every registered
 Trade Union  shall be  a body  corporate by the name under which it is
 registered, and shall have perpetual succession and a common seal with
 power to  acquire and  hold both movable and immovable property and to
 contract, and shall by the said name sue and be sued.
 14.
 Certain Acts not to apply to registered Trade Unions.
      14. Certain  Acts not  to apply  to registered Trade Unions.- The
 following Acts, namely:--
           (a) The Societies Registration Act, 1860 (21 of 1860),
           (b) The Co-operative Societies Act, 1912 (2 of 1912),
           1*[(c) The Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956);]
 shall not apply to any registered Trade Union, and the registration of
 any such Trade Union under any such Act shall be void.
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
 1.   Subs. bu  Act 42  of 1960,  s. 7, for cl. (e) Former cls. (e) and
      (d) were omitted by Act 25 of 1942, s. 2 and Sch. I.
 58
 CHAP
 RIGHTS AND LIABILITIES OF REGISTERED TRADE UNIONS
                              CHAPTER III
           RIGHTS AND LIABILITIES OF REGISTERED TRADE UNIONS
 15.
 Objects on  which  general funds may be  spent.
      15. Objects  on  which   general funds may be spent.- The general
 funds of  a registered  Trade Union  shall not  be spent  on any other
 objects than the following, namely:--
           (a) the  payment of  salaries, allowances  and  expenses  to
                l*[office-bearers] of the Trade Union;
           (b) the  payment of  expenses for  the administration of the
                Trade Union,  including audit  of the  accounts of  the
                general funds of the Trade Union;
           (c) the  prosecution or  defence of  any legal proceeding to
                which the Trade Union or any member thereof is a party,
                when such  prosecution or defence is undertaken for the
                purpose of  securing or  protecting any  rights of  the
                Trade Union  as such  or any  rights arising out of the
                relations of  any member  with his  employer or  with a
                person whom the member employs; 8
 
           (d) the  conduct of  trade disputes  on behalf  of the Trade
                Union or any member thereof;
           (e) the  compensation of  members for  loss arising  out  of
                trade disputes;
           (f) allowances  to members or their dependants on account of
                death, old  age, sickness, accidents or unemployment of
                such members;
           (g) the  issue of,  or the  undertaking of  liability under,
                policies of assurance on the lives of members, or under
                policies insuring members against sickness, accident or
                unemployment;
 
           (h)  the  provision  of  educational,  social  or  religious
                benefits for  members (including  the  payment  of  the
                expenses  of   funeral  or   religious  ceremonies  for
                deceased members) or for the dependants of members;
 
           (i) the  upkeep of  a periodical  published mainly  for  the
                purpose of  discussing questions affecting employers or
                workmen as such;
           (j) the  payment, in  furtherance of  any of  the objects on
                which    the general  funds of  the Trade  Union may be
                spent,  of  contributions  to  any  cause  intended  to
                benefit workmen
 
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
 1.   Subs. by Act 38 of 1964, s. 2, for "officers "(w.e.f. 1-4-1965).
 59
                in general, provided that the expenditure in respect of
                such contributions  in any  financial year shall not at
                any time during that year be in excess of one-fourth of
                the combined  total of the gross income which has up to
                that time  accrued to  the general  funds of  the Trade
                Union during that year and of the balance at the credit
                of those funds at the commencement of that year; and
 
           (k) subject to any conditions contained in the notification,
                any  other   object  notified   by  the  1*[appropriate
                Government] in the official Gazette.
 16.
 Constitution of a separate fund for political purposes.
 16. Constitution of a  separate fund  for  political  purposes.-(1)  A
 registered  Trade   Union  may   constitute  a   separate  fund,  from
 contributions separately  levied for  or made to that fund, from which
 payments may  be made,  for the  promotion of  the civic and political
 interests of  its members,  in  furtherance  of  any  Of  the  objects
 specified in sub-section (2).
 
      (2) The objects referred to in sub-section (1) are:--
           (a) the payment of any expenses incurred, either directly or
                indirectly, by a candidate or prospective candidate for
                election  as   a  member   of  any   legislative   body
                constituted under  2*[the Constitution] or of any local
                authority, before,  during, or  after the  election  in
                connection with his candidature or election; or
 
           (b) the  holding of  any meeting  or the distribution of any
                literature  or   documents  in   support  of  any  such
                candidate or prospective candidate; or
           (c) the  maintenance of  any person  who is  a member of any 9
                legislative body constituted under 2*[the Constitution]
                or of any local authority; or
 
           (d) the  registration of  electors  or  the  election  of  a
                candidate for  any legislative  body constituted  under
                2*[the Constitution] or for any local authority; or
           (e) the  holding of  political meetings  of any kind, or the
                distribution  of   political  literature  or  political
                documents of any kind.
      3*[(2A) In  its application  to the  State of  Jammu and Kashmir,
 references in  sub-section (2)  to any  legislative  body  constituted
 under the
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
 1.   Subs. by the A. O. 1937, for "G. G. in C.".
 2.   The words  "the Government  of India  Act" have been successively
      amended by  the A.  O. 1937, the A. O. 1950 and Act 42 of 1960 to
      read as above.
 3.   Ins. by Act 51 of 1970, s. 2 and Sch. (w.e.f. 1-9-1971).
 
 60
 Constitution  shall  be  construed  as  including  references  to  the
 Legislature of that State.]
      (3) No  member shall  be compelled  to  contribute  to  the  fund
 constituted  under   sub-section  (1);  and  a  member  who  does  not
 contribute to the said fund shall not be excluded from any benefits of
 the  Trade  Union,  or  placed  in  any  respect  either  directly  or
 indirectly under  any disability  or at  any disadvantage  as compared
 with other  members of  the Trade  Union (except  in relation  to  the
 control or  management  of  the  said  fund)  by  reason  of  his  not
 contributing to the said fund; and contribution to the said fund shall
 not be made a condition for admission to the Trade Union.
 17.
 Criminal conspiracy in trade disputes.
      17. Criminal  conspiracy in trade disputes.- No 1*[office-bearer]
 or member  of a  registered Trade  Union shall be liable to punishment
 under sub-section (2) of section 120B Indian Penal Code (45 of  1860),
 in respect  of any  agreement made between the members for the purpose
 of furthering  any such  object of  the Trade Union as is specified in
 section 15, unless the agreement is an agreement to commit an offence.
 18.
 Immunity from civil suit in certain cases.
      18. Immunity  from civil  suit in  certain cases.- (1) No suit or
 other legal  proceeding shall  be  maintainable  in  any  Civil  Court
 against any  registered Trade Union or any 1*[office-bearer; or member
 thereof in  respect of any act done in contemplation or furtherance of
 a trade dispute to which a member of the Trade Union is a party on the
 ground only  that such  act induces  some  other  person  to  break  a
 contract of  employment, or that it is in interference with the trade,
 business or  employment of some other person or with the right of some
 other person to dispose of his capital or of his labour as he wills.
 
      (2) A  registered Trade  Union shall not be liable in any suit or
 other legal  proceeding in  any Civil Court in respect of any tortious
 act done  in contemplation  or furtherance  of a  trade dispute  by an
 agent of  the Trade  Union if  it is  proved that  such  person  acted
 without the  knowledge of,  or contrary  to express instructions given
 by, the executive of the Trade Union.
  10
 19.
 
 Enforceability of agreements.
      19.    Enforceability  of  agreements.- Notwithstanding  anything
 contained in  any other  law for the time being in force, an agreement
 between the  members of  a registered Trade Union shall not be void or
 voidable merely  by reason  of the fact that any of the objects of the
 agreement are in restraint of trade:
 
      Provided that  nothing in  this section  shall enable  any  Civil
 Court to  entertain any  legal proceeding  instituted for  the express
 purpose of  enforcing or  recovering damages  for the  breach  of  any
 agreement concerning the
 
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
 1.   Subs. by Act 38 of 1964, s. 2 for "officer" (w.e.f. 1-4-1965).
 61
 conditions on  which any  members of  a Trade Union shall or shall not
 sell their goods, transact business, work, employ or be employed.
 20.
 Right to inspect books of Trade Union.
     20. Right to inspect books of Trade Union.- The account books of a
 registered Trade  Union and  the list of members thereof shall be open
 to inspection  by an 1*[office-bearer] or member of the Trade Union at
 such times as may be provided for in the rules of the Trade Union.
 21.
 Rights of minors to membership of Trade Unions.
      21. Rights  of minors  to membership of Trade Unions.- Any person
 who has  attained the  age of  fifteen years  may be  a  member  of  a
 registered Trade  Union subject to any rules of the Trade Union to the
 contrary, and  may, subject  as aforesaid,  enjoy all  the rights of a
 member and execute all instruments and give all acquittances necessary
 to be executed or given under the rules.
 
      2*           *                 *                 *              
*
 21A.
 Disqualifications of office-bearers of Trade Unions.
      3*[21A. Disqualifications of office-bearers of Trade Unions.- (1)
 A person  shall be  disqualified for being chosen as, and for being, a
 member of  the executive  or any  other office-bearer  of a registered
 Trade Union if--
 
           (i) he has not attained the age of eighteen years,
           (ii) he  has been  convicted by  a Court  in  India  of  any
                offence involving  moral  turpitude  and  sentenced  to
                imprisonment, unless a period of five years has elapsed
                since his release.
 
      (2) Any  member of  the executive  or other  office-bearer  of  a
 registered Trade  Union who,  before the  commencement of  the  Indian
 Trade Unions  (Amendment) Act,  1964 (38 of 1964),  has been convicted
 of  any   offence  involving   moral  turpitude   and   sentenced   to 11
 imprisonment, shall  on the date of such commencement cease to be such
 member or  office-bearer unless  a period  of five  years has  elapsed
 since his release before that date.]
 
      4*[(3) In  its application  to the  State of  Jammu and  Kashmir,
 reference in  sub-section (2)  to the commencement of the Indian Trade
 Unions (Amendment)  Act, 1964  (38 of  1964),  shall  be construed  as
 reference to the commencement of this Act in the said State.]
 22.
 Proportion of office-bearers to be connected with the industry.
      22.  Proportion  of  office-bearers  to  be  connected  with  the
 industry.- Not less than one-half of the total number of the
5*[office-
 bearers] of  every registered  Trade Union  shall be  persons actually
 engaged or  employed in  an industry  with which  the Trade  Union  is
 connected:
 
      Provided that  the 6*[appropriate  Government] may, by special or
 general order,  declare that  the provisions of this section shall not
 apply
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
 1.   Subs. by Act 38 of 1964, s. 2, for "officer" (w.e.f. 1-4-1965).
 2.   The proviso omitted by s. 4, ibid. (w.e.f. 1-4-1965).
 3.   Ins. by s. 5, ibid. (w.e.f. 1-4-1965).
 4.   Ins. by Act 51 of 1970, s. 2 and Sch. (w.e.f. 1-9-1971).
 5.   Subs. by Act 38 of 1964, s. 2, for "officers" (w.e.f. 1-4-1965).
 6.   Subs. by the A. O. 1937, for "L. G.".
 
 62
 to any Trade Union or class of Trade Unions specified in the order.
 23.
 Change of name
      23. Change of name.-  Any registered  Trade Union  may, with  the
 consent of not less than two-thirds of the total number of its members
 and subject to the provisions of section 25, change its name.
 24.
 Amalgamation of Trade Unions.
      24. Amalgamation of Trade  Unions.- Any  two or  more  registered
 Trade Unions  may become  amalgamated together as one Trade Union with
 or without  dissolution or  division of the funds of such Trade Unions
 or either or any of them, provided that the votes of at least one-halt
 of the  members of each or every such trade Union entitled to vote are
 recorded, and  that at least sixty per cent. of the votes recorded are
 in favour of the proposal.
 25.
 Notice of change of name or amalgamation.
      25.   Notice of  change of  name or amalgamation.- (1)  Notice in
 writing of  every change of name of every amalgamation, signed, in the
 case of a change of name, by the Secretary and by seven members of the
 Trade Union changing its name, and, in the case of an amalgamation, by
 the Secretary and by seven members of each and every Trade Union which 12
 is a  party thereto,  shall be  sent to  the Registrar, and where the
 head office  of the amalgamated Trade Union is situated in a different
 State, to the Registrar of such State.
 
      (2) If  the proposed  name is  identical with  that by  which any
 other existing  Trade Union  has been registered or, in the opinion of
 the Registrar,  so nearly  resembles such  name as  to  be  likely  to
 deceive the public or the members of either Trade Union, the Registrar
 shall refuse to register the change of name.
 
      (3) Save  as provided in sub-section (2), the Registrar shall, if
 he is  satisfied that  the provisions of this Act in respect of change
 of name  have been  complied with,  register the change of name in the
 register referred  to in  section 8, and the change of name shall have
 effect from the date of such registration.
 
      (4) The  Registrar of  the State  in which the head office of the
 amalgamated Trade Union is situated shall, if he is satisfied that the
 provisions of  this Act  in respect of amalgamation have been complied
 with  and   that  the  Trade  Union  formed  thereby  is  entitled  to
 registration under  section 6,  register the Trade Union in the manner
 provided in section 8, and the amalgamation shall have effect from the
 date of such registration.
 26.
 Effects of change of name and of amalgamation.
     26. Effects of change of name and of amalgamation.- (1) The change
 in the  name of a registered Trade Union shall not a affect any rights
 or obligations of the Trade Union or render
 63
 defective any  legal proceeding by or against the Trade Union, and any
 legal proceeding  which might  have been  continued or commenced by or
 against it  by its  former name  may be  continued or  commenced by or
 against it by its new name.
 
      (2) An  amalgamation of two or more registered Trade Unions shall
 not prejudice  any right of any of such Trade Unions or any right of a
 creditor of any of them.
 27.
 Dissolution.
      27. Dissolution.- (1) When a registered Trade Union is dissolved,
 notice of the dissolution signed by seven members and by the Secretary
 of the  Trade Union shall, within fourteen days of the dissolution, be
 sent to  the Registrar,  and shall  be registered  by  him  if  he  is
 satisfied that  the dissolution  has been  effected in accordance with
 the rules  of the  Trade Union,  and the dissolution shall have effect
 from the date of such registration.
 
      (2) Where  the dissolution  of a  registered Trade Union has been
 registered and  the rules  of the  Trade Union  do not provide for the
 distribution of funds of the Trade Union on dissolution, the Registrar
 shall divide  the funds  amongst the  members in such manner as may be
 prescribed.
 28.
 Returns.
      28. Returns.- (1) There  shall be sent annually to the Registrar,
 on or  before such  date as  may be  prescribed, a  general statement, 13
 audited in  the prescribed  manner, of all receipts and expenditure of
 every registered Trade Union during the year ending on the 31st day of
 1*[December] next  preceding such  prescribed date,  and of the assets
 and liabilities  of the  Trade Union  existing on  such  31st  day  of
 1*[December]. The  statement shall  be prepared in such form and shall
 comprise such particulars as may be prescribed.
 
      (2) Together  with the  general statement  there shall be sent to
 the Registrar  a statement  showing all  changes of 2*[office-bearers]
 made by the Trade Union during the year to which the general statement
 refers, together  also with  a copy  of the  rules of  the Trade Union
 corrected up to the date of the despatch thereof to the Registrar.
 
      (3) A  copy of every alteration made in the rules of a registered
 Trade Union  shall be sent to the Registrar within fifteen days of the
 making of the alteration.
      3*[(4) For  the purpose of examining the documents referred to in
 sub-sections  (1),   (2)  and  (3),  the  Registrar,  or  any  officer
 authorised by  him, by general or special order, may at all reasonable
 times
 
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
 1.   Subs. by Act 38 of 1964, s. 6, for "March" (w.e.f. 1-4-1965).
 2.   Subs. by s. 2, ibid., for "officers" (w.e.f. 1-4-1965).
 3.   Ins. by Act 42 of 1960, s. 9.
 
 64
 inspect the certificate of registration, account books, registers, and
 other documents,  relating to  a Trade Union, at its registered office
 or may  require their  production at  such place  as he may specify in
 this behalf, but no such place shall be at a distance of more than ten
 miles from the registered office of a Trade Union.]
 CHAP
 REGULATIONS
                               CHAPTER IV
                              REGULATIONS
 29.
 Power to make regulations.
      29. Poser  to  make regulations.-  (1)  1***  The  2*[appropriate
 Government] may  make regulations  for the  purpose of  carrying  into
 effect the provisions of this Act.
      (2) In  particular and without prejudice to the generality of the
 foregoing power,  such regulations  may provide  for all or any of the
 following matters, namely:--
           (a) the  manner in which Trade Unions and the rules of Trade
                Unions shall  be registered  and the  fees  payable  on
                registration;
           (b)  the  transfer  of  registration  in  the  case  of  any
                registered Trade  Union  which  has  changed  its  head
                office from one State to another;
           (c) the  manner in  which, and the qualifications of persons
                by whom,  the accounts of registered Trade Unions or of
                any class of such Unions shall be audited;
           (d) the  conditions subject to which inspection of documents
                kept by  Registrars shall be allowed and the fees which 14
                shall be chargeable in respect of such inspections; and
 
           (e) any matter which is to be or may be prescribed.
 30.
 Publication of regulations.
      30. Publication of regulations.-(1) The power to make regulations
 conferred by section 29 is subject to the condition of the regulations
 being made after previous publication.
      (2) The  date to  be specified  in accordance  with clause (3) of
 section 23  of the  General Clauses  Act, 1897  (10 of 1897),  as that
 after which  a draft  of regulations proposed to be made will be taken
 into consideration  shall not  be less than three months from the date
 on which  the draft  of the  proposed regulations  was  published  for
 general information.
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
 1.   The words  "Subject to the control of the G. G. in C." omitted by
      the A. O. 1937.
 2.   Subs., ibid., for "L. G.".
 
 65 (3) Regulations  so made  shall  be  published  in  the  Official
 Gazette, and  on such  publication shall  have effect as if enacted in
 this Act.

                              CHAPTER V
                        PENALTIES AND PROCEDURE

      31. Failure to submit returns.-(1) If default is made on the part
 of any  registered Trade  Union in  giving any  notice or  sending any
 statement or  other document  as required by or under any provision of
 this Act,  every 1*[office- bearer] or other person bound by the rules
 of the  Trade Union  to give or send the same, or, if there is no such
 1*[office-bearer] or person every member of the executive of the Trade
 Union, shall  be punishable, with fine which may extend to five rupees
 and, in  the case  of a  continuing default,  with an  additional fine
 which may  extend to  five rupees for each week after the first during
 which the default continues:
 
 Provided that the aggregate fine shall not exceed fifty rupees.
      (2) Any  person who  wilfully makes,  or causes  to be  made, any
 false entry  in, or  any omission from, the general statement required
 by section  28, or  in or  from any copy of rules or of alterations of
 rules sent  to the  Registrar under  that section, shall be punishable
 with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees.
 32.  Supplying false information regarding Trade Unions.
      32. Supplying  false  information regarding  Trade  Unions.-  Any 15
 person who,  with  intent  to  deceive,  gives  to  any  member  of  a
 registered Trade  Union or  to any  person intending  or  applying  to
 become a  member of such Trade Union any document  purporting to  be a
 copy of the rules of the Trade Union or of any alterations to the same
 which  he  knows,  or  has reason to believe, is not a correct copy of
 such  rules  or alterations as are for the time being in force, or any
 person who, with the like intent, gives  a  copy of  any  rules  of an
 unregistered  Trade  Union  to  any  person  on the pretence that such
 rules are  the rules  of a registered Trade Union, shall be punishable
 with fine which may extend to two hundred rupees.

      33. Congnizance  of offences.- (1) No Court inferior to that of a
 Presidency Magistrate or a Magistrate of the first class shall try any
 offence under this Act.
      (2) No Court shall take cognizance of any offence under this Act,
 unless complaint  thereof has  been made  by,  or  with  the  previous
 sanction of, the Registrar or, in the case of an offence under section
 32, by the person to whom the copy was given, within six months of the
 date on which the offence is alleged to have been committed.
 
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
 1.   Subs. by Act 38 of 1964 s. 2, for "officer" (w.e.f. 1-4-1926)