CHAPTER 41

TRADE UNIONS
41.1 Trade Unions are voluntary organization of Workers as well as Employers formed
to protect and promote the interest of their members. They are the most suitable
organizations for balancing and improving the relations between the employer and the
employees. Trade Unions have made headway due to rapid industrial development.
The workers come together to maintain and improve their bargaining power on wages
and working conditions. The first organized Trade Union in India named as the Madras
Labour Union was formed in the year 1918. From the beginning itself, Trade Unions
were not confined to workers alone. From 19th Century itself there were Employer's
associations in the form of Chamber of Commerce, Industrial Associations etc. to
protect and promote the interests of their members in a concerted manner. After
independence, expansion of industrial activity and growing worker's Trade Unions acted
as a spur for strengthening and expansion of employers' organization.

41.2 In industrially advanced countries, trade unionism has made a great impact on the
social, political and economic life. India, being an agricultural country, trade unionism is
restricted to industrial areas and it is still in a stage of growth. The earliest known trade
unions in India were the Bombay Millhand's Association formed in 1890, the
Amalgamated Society of railway servants of India and Burma formed in 1897, Printers'
Union formed in Calcutta in 1905, the Bombay Postal Union which was formed in 1907,
the Kamgar Hitwardhak Sabha Bombay formed in 1910.

41.3 Trade Union movement began in India after the end of First World War. After a
decade following the end of First World War the pressing need for the coordination of
the activities of the individual unions was recognised. Thus, the All India Trade Union
Congress was formed in 1920 on a National Basis, the Central Labour Board, Bombay
and the Bengal Trades Union Federation was formed in 1922. The All India
Railwaymen's Federation was formed in the same year and this was followed by the
creation of both Provincial and Central federations of unions of postal and telegraph
employees.

41.4 The origin of the passing of a Trade Unions Act in India was the historic
Buckingham Mill case in which the Madras High Court granted an interim injunction
against the Strike Committee of the Madras Labour Union forbidding them to induce
certain workers to break their contracts of employment by refusing to return to work.
Trade Union leaders found that they were liable to prosecution and imprisonment for
bona fide union activities and it was felt that some legislation for the protection of trade
union was necessary. In March, 1921, Shri N. M. Joshi, then General Secretary of the
All India Trade Union Congress, successfully moved a resolution in the Central
Legislative Assembly recommending that Government should introduce legislation for
the registration and protection of trade unions. Opposition from employers to the
adoption of such a measure was, however, so great that it was not until 1926 that the
Indian Trade Unions Act was passed.

41.5 Indian Trade Unions Bill, 1925 having been passed by the Legislature received its
assent on 25th March, 1926. It came into force on 1st June, 1927 as the Indian Trade
Unions Act, 1926 (16 of 1926). By section 3 of the Indian Trade Unions (Amendment)
Act, 1964 (38 of 1964) the word "Indian" has been omitted and now it is known as THE
TRADE UNIONS ACT, 1926 (16 of 1926).

41.6 This act summarizes all modalities pertaining to registration of trade union to
decision of trade related disputes. This act sets guidelines for both the workers and the
industrialists. The Act deals with the registration of trade unions, their rights, their
liabilities and responsibilities as well as ensures that their funds are utilised properly. It
gives legal and corporate status to the registered trade unions. It also seeks to protect
them from civil or criminal prosecution so that they could carry on their legitimate
activities for the benefit of the working class. The Act is applicable not only to the union
of workers but also to the association of employers. It extends to whole of India. Also,
certain Acts, namely, the Societies Registration Act, 1860; the Co-operative Societies
Act, 1912; and the Companies Act, 1956 shall not apply to any registered trade union,
and that the registration of any such trade union under any such Act shall be void. The
main provisions made in this Act are as under:

 Trade Union: 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.
 Registration of Trade Union: The Act provides for the registration of the trade
unions with the 'Registrars of Trade Unions' set up in different States. For
registration of a trade union, seven or more members of the union can submit
their application in the prescribed form to the Registrar of trade unions. The
application shall be accompanied by a copy of the 'rules of the trade union' and a
statement giving the following particulars:- (i) Names, occupations and addresses
of the members making the application; (ii)The name of the trade union and the
of its head office; (iii) The titles, names, ages, addresses and occupations of the
office bearers of the trade union as per the format given in the Act. The Registrar,
on being satisfied that the Union has complied with all the requirements of this
Act, registers the trade union.
 Registration Certificate: On receipt of the application for registration, the
Registrar issues a certificate of registration in the prescribed form as a conclusive
evidence of registration of that trade Union.
 Cancellation of Registration: A certificate of Registration may be withdrawn or
cancelled by the Registrar either after an application of a Trade Union or if the
Registrar is satisfied that the certificate is obtained by fraud or mistake or that the
trade union had ceased to exist or willfully and after notice from the Registrar,
contravened any provisions of the Act or rules etc.
 Annual Statutory Returns: The registered trade unions (workers & employers)
are required to submit annual statutory returns to the Registrar regarding their
membership, general funds, sources of income and items of expenditure and
details of their assets and liabilities, which in turn submits a consolidated return
 of their state in the prescribed proformae to Labour Bureau, Ministry of Labour
Employment. The Labour Bureau on receiving the annual returns from different
States/Union Territories consolidates the all India statistics and disseminates
them through its publication entitled the 'Trade Unions in India' and its other
regular publications. Every trade union shall send annual returns to the Registrar
in triplicate on or before the 1st day of June of the year succeeding the calendar
year.
 Uses of Funds: The general funds of a registered trade union are to be spent on
objects specified in the Act. Also, a registered trade union may constitute a
separate fund, from contributions separately levied for or made to that fund, for
the promotion of the civic and political interest of its members. No member shall
be compelled to contribute to such fund and a member who does not contribute
to the said fund shall not be excluded from any benefits of the trade union.
 Maintenance of Accounts: The account books of a registered trade union and the
list of members thereof is open to inspection by an office-bearer or member of
the trade union at such times as may be provided for in the rules of trade union.
 Disqualification: A person is disqualified for being chosen as, and for being a
member of, the executive or any other office-bearer or 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.

41.7 The Trade Unions Act 1926 has been amended from time to time, the most
important being the Trade Unions (Amendment) Act, 2001. This Act has been
enacted in order to bring more transparency and to provide greater support to trade
unionism in India. Some of the salient features of the Trade Unions (Amendment) Act,
2001 are:-
 No trade union of workmen shall be registered unless at least 10% or 100,
whichever is less, subject to a minimum of 7 workmen engaged or employed in
the establishment or industry with which it is connected, are the members of such
trade union on the date of making of application for registration.
 A registered trade union of workmen shall at all times continue to have not less
than 10% or 100 of the workmen, whichever is less, subject to a minimum of 7
persons engaged or employed in the establishment or industry with which it is
connected, as its members.
 A provision for filing an appeal before the Industrial Tribunal / Labour Court in
case of non-registration or for restoration of registration has been provided.
 All office bearers of a registered trade union, except not more than one-third of
the total number of office bearers or five, whichever is less, shall be persons
actually engaged or employed in the establishment or industry with which the
trade union is connected.
 Minimum rate of subscription by members of the trade union is fixed at Rs 1 per
annum for rural workers, three rupees per annum for workers in other
unorganised sectors and Rs 12 rupees per annum in all other cases.
  The employees who have been retired or have been retrenched shall not be
construed as outsiders for the purpose of holding an office in the trade union
concerned.
 For the promotion of civic and political interest of its members, unions are
authorized to set up separate political funds.

Growth of Trade Union( Workers & Employers Combined )

41.8 Latest available information for trade unions pertains to year 2011. While Labor
Bureau has estimated the figures till 2008 by incorporating the latest available
information of the non responding states, the data thereafter pertains to responding
states/UTs only. Hence consistency of any sort is likely to be present in data till 2008
only. Such a table published in Trade Unions in India 2010, Labor Bureau, is given
above. As per the information available, number of registered trade unions have
increased by about 31% in the ten years duration ( i.e. 1999-2008) to 84,642 registered
unions. However compared to 2007 the number declined by about 12 per cent and the
average membership per union declined from 1063 in 2007 to 986 in 2008. During
2011, the number of registered trade unions, (on the basis of information furnished by
responding states) was 10264. Out of these about 27 % of the registered trade unions
have submitted returns . During 2010, 15.2 % of the 19376 registered unions in
responding states had submitted their returns. As per the information received from
States/UTs ,during 2010 & 2011 2936 and 2769 workers union respectively submitted
their returns. During 2010, 1 employers union had also submitted its return (out of 56
registered employers union in responding states). The average membership per union
submitting returns increased from 1736 during 2010 to 2680 during 2011. On the basis
of available information for 2008 , Tamil Nadu accounted for the largest number of
registered trade unions (8,793) followed by Rajasthan (4,593). However during 2011
amongst responding states , Karnataka had highest number (3187) of registered trade
unions , followed by Punjab , Haryana and Puducherry with 2587, 1466 and 1412
registered trade unions respectively. Bulk of the trade unions are state unions and out
of the response received , they comprised 92 % & 72 % of all registered trade unions
during 2010 & 2011 respectively. State Unions are those unions, whose activities/
objectives are confined to the boundaries of the State, while Central Unions have
activities/objectives beyond a State boundary. All of the 10264 registered trade unions
during 2011 and 19320 out of the 19376 such union during 2010 were workers union .
56 employers union were also on register during 2010 as reported by responding states.

Industrial Activity Wise Distribution of Workers Unions Submitting Returns:

41.10 Out of the 9702 unions that submitted returns during 2008 , 3452 unions ( about
40%) belonged to the manufacturing group , followed by 'Other community, social and
Personal Services Activities' (1374 unions, 14 percent) & Transport Storage &
communication (1334, 14 per cent).During 2010, ‘Manufacturing Group’ accounted for
34 per cent of the total number of unions submitting returns, followed by ‘Transportation
and Storage’ (16.6 per cent). The membership was highest in ‘Agriculture, Forestry and
Fishing’ (27.2 per cent), followed by ‘Manufacturing’ (26.3 per cent). During 2011 also
largest number of workers trade union that submitted returns were from manufacturing
group as they comprised about 37 % of such unions across all industries. Second
largest industry group of workers union that submitted returns during 2011 was
transportation and storage (as in 2010) as it accounted for about 13 % of all such
unions in various industry groups. During 2011, the average membership per union
submitting returns , at 2 digit NIC , was largest in case of agriculture, forestry and fishing
(11160 members per union ) whereas at 3 digit NIC , the average size was as large as
1,13,626 members per worker union submitting return, in case of industry group ,
repairs of computers and communication equipment .

Income and Expenditure of Workers' Unions

41.11 During 2008, total Income and Expenditure of all workers unions was Rs 113.81
Crore and Rs 80.99 Crore respectively . The Income and Expenditure of Workers
Central Unions was Rs 44.79 Crore and Rs 24.10 Crore respectively. The remaining
Income and Expenditure of Rs 69.02 Crore and Rs 56.89 Crore respectively pertained
to State Unions. The highest income and expenditure of Central Unions and as well as
for State Unions was in Tamil Nadu. However, on the basis of returns received from 12
states, during 2010, total Income and Expenditure of all workers unions was Rs 37.6 Cr
and Rs 34.18 Crore respectively. The Income and Expenditure of Workers Central
Unions was Rs 6.61 Crore and Rs 5.53 Crore respectively. The remaining Income and
Expenditure of Rs 31.03 Crore and Rs 28.65 Crore respectively pertained to State
Unions. The highest income and expenditure of Central Unions and as well as for State
Unions was in Kerala. During 2011, income & expenditure of workers union (that
submitted returns) was Rs 46.4 Cr and Rs 40.4 Cr respectively. Highest income &
expenditure of the unions that submitted returns was from the State of Karnataka at Rs
18.8 Cr and 16.2 Cr respectively.

Employers Union :
41.12 In 2008, out of 74 registered Employers Unions, 7 unions (i.e. 9.46 percent) had
submitted returns. All the employers, trade unions submitting returns were State Unions.
These union had a membership of 6,924 persons, out of which only 1,012
(14.62percent) were women. The average membership per employers union was 989.
Highest number of Employers Unions submitting returns was 4 in 'Manufacturing'
whereas Real Estate Renting & Business Activities had highest membership amongst
those submitting returns. In 2010, out of 56 registered Employers' Unions, 1 state union
had submitted returns. The union had a membership of 15 male persons. During 2011,
no information pertaining to employers unions was received from States/UTs.

Income and Expenditure of Employers Unions

41.13 All the employers unions submitting returns were State Unions during 2008 as
well as during 2010 . Income and Expenditure of these unions was Rs 0.37 Crore and
Rs 0.33 Crore respectively during 2008 and Rs 7500 and Rs 5000 respectively during
2010 . Among Industries, maximum Income and Expenditure of Rs 0.29 Crore and Rs
0.29 Crore respectively was reported in industry group “Manufacturing (Ind. Code D) ”
followed by “Real Estate, Renting and Business Activities” (Ind. Code K) during 2008.

41.14 Source of Trade Union Statistics: The Rules Framed under the “Trade Unions
Act, 1926 impose obligation on the registered Trade Unions (Workers & Employers) to
submit annual statutory return in the prescribed format to the Registrar of their
respective States/ Union Territories. These State/U.T. Authorities in turn furnish the
consolidated data in respect of the entire State/U.T. to the Labour Bureau. The Labour
Bureau, Ministry of Labour & Employment, compiles and disseminates these statistics
at All India level.

Note : Statistics on Trade Unions is constrained by non reporting by several states .

Even in the States that submit returns , information for a large number of trade unions is
not available due to non filing of their returns.
 List of Trade Unions

Trade Unions in India are registered and file annual returns under the Trade Union Act (1926).
Statistics on Trade Unions are collected annually by the Labour Bureau of the Ministry of Labour,
Government of India. Congress associated, the Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) is
assumed as the biggest of the seven central trade unions, with a membership of 33.3 million.

Meaning of Trade Union: - Trade union is an association of either of employees or employers or of

independent workers. It is formed to secure certain economic, social benefits of the workers.

Indian parliament had passed the trade union amendment bill, 2000. The bill was introduced
with objectives to
(a) To control multiplicity of trade unions
(b) Establishing industrial democracy
(c) Encourage well managed expansion of trade unions.
The amended act was introduced after incorporating the recommendations of the Ramanujan
Committee. The act has following recommendations: -
1. Minimum 10% of total labour force or 100 workers in an organization (whichever is less) must be
required to form trade union.
2. Number of members should not be less than 7 in any organization.
3. At least 5 members or 1\3rd (whichever is less) should be employees of the same.
4. Annual contribution for trade union should not be less than Rs. 12.
List of main trade unions is given below:
Top Nine Trade Unions of India
S. Trade Union Year of H. Q. Political Membership
No. Establishment Affiliation (Million)

1. All India Trade 1920 New Delhi CPI 14.2

Union Congress
(AITUC)

2. Indian National May 3, 1947 New Delhi Indian 33.3

Trade Union National
Congress Congress
(INTUC)

3. Bhartiya July 27, New Delhi BJP 17.1

Mazdoor Sangh 1955
(BMS)

4. Centre for 1970 New Delhi CPM 5.7

Indian Trade
Unions (CITU)
5. Hind Mazdoor Dec. 24, New Delhi Samajvadi 9.1
Sabha (HMS) 1948

6. All India Trade April 26-27, Kolkata Socialist 4.7

Union Centre 1958 Unity Centre
(AIUTUC) of
India(Marxist)

7. Self-employed 1972 Ahmedabad 1.3

Women's
Association of
India (SEWA)

8. Trade Union 1970 NA AIFB 1.6

Coordination
Centre

9. All India Central May 1989 NA CPI (M-L) 2.5

Council of Trade
Union
 THE TRADE UNIONS ACT, 1926
(Modified as on 17-11- 2020)
____________
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
____________
CHAPTER I
PRELIMINARY
SECTIONS
1. Short title, extent and commencement.
2. Definitions.
CHAPTER II
REGISTRATION OF TRADE UNIONS
3. Appointment of Registrars.
4. Mode of registration.
5. Application for registration.
6. Provisions to be contained in the rules of a Trade Union.
7. Power to call for further particulars and to require alteration of name.
8. Registration.
9. Certificate of registration.
9A. Minimum requirement about membership of a Trade Union.
10. Cancellation of registration.
11. Appeal.
12. Registered office.
13. Incorporation of registered Trade Unions.
14. Certain Acts not to apply to registered Trade Unions.
CHAPTER III
RIGHTS AND LIABILITIES OF REGISTERED TRADE UNIONS
15. Objects on which general funds may be spent.
16. Constitution of a separate fund for political purposes.
17. Criminal conspiracy in trade disputes.
18. Immunity from civil suit in certain cases.
19. Enforceability of agreements.
20. Right to inspect books of Trade Union.
21. Rights of minors to membership of Trade Unions.
21A. Disqualifications of office-bearers of Trade Unions.
22. Proportion of office-bearers to be connected with the industry.
23. Change of name.
24. Amalgamation of Trade Unions.
25. Notice of change of name or amalgamation.

1
SECTIONS
26. Effects of change of name and of amalgamation.
27. Dissolution.
28. Returns.
CHAPTER IV
REGULATIONS
29. Power to make regulations.
30. Publication of regulations.
CHAPTER V
PENALTIES AND PROCEDURE
31. Failure to submit returns.
32. Supplying false information regarding Trade Unions.
33. Cognizance of offences.

2
 THE TRADE UNIONS ACT, 1926
ACT NO. 16 OF 19261
[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:—
CHAPTER I
PRELIMINARY
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 date6 as the Central Government may, by notification in the
Official Gazette, appoint.
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;
(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;
9
[(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 Unio n is situated;]

1. This Act has been extended to Goa, Daman and Diu by Reg. 12 of 1962; to Pondicherry by Reg. 7 of 1963 (w.e.f. 1-101963)
and to Lakshadweep by Reg. 8 of 1965, s. 3 and Sch.
The Act has been amended in its application to Maharashtra by Maharashtra Act 3 of 1968 and to Madhya Pradesh by Madhya
Pradesh Acts 28 of 1960 and 16 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).
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 the Sch.
(w.e.f. 1-9-1971).
6. 1st June, 1927, sec 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).
9. Subs. by Act 42 of 1960, s. 3, for cl. (f).

3
 (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
(iii) any agreement in consideration of the sale of the goodwill of a business or of
instruction in any profession, trade or handicraft.
CHAPTER II
REGISTRATION OF TRADE UNIONS
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.— 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
[Provided that no Trade Union of workmen shall be registered unless at least ten per cent. or one hundred of
the workmen, whichever is less, engaged or employed in the establishment or industry with which it is connected
are the members of such Trade Union on the date of making of application for registration:
Provided further that no Trade Union of workmen shall be registered unless it has on the date of making
application not less than seven persons as its members, who are workmen engaged or employed in the
establishment or industry with which it is connected.]
7
[(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

1. Section 3 renumbered 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. Section 4 renumbered as sub-section (1) thereof by s. 5, ibid.
6. The Provisos ins. by Act 31 of 2001, s. 2 (w.e.f. 9-1-2002).
7. Ins. by Act 42 of 1960, s. 5.

4
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, have ceased to be members of the Trade Union or have given notice in writing to the
Registrar dissociating themselves from the applications.]
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 particular’s, namely:—
(a) the names, occupations and addresses of the members making the application;
1
[(aa) in the case of a Trade Union of workmen, the names, occupations and addresses of the
place of work of the members of the Trade Union making the application;]
(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 2[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. —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 2[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
the number of honorary or temporary members as 2 [office-bearers] required under section 22
to form the executive of the Trade Union;
3
[(ee) the payment of a minimum subscription by members of the Trade Union which shall not
be less than—
(i) one rupee per annum for rural workers;
(ii) three rupees per annum for workers in other unorganised sectors; and
(iii) twelve rupees per annum for workers in any other case;]
(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 2[elected] and removed;

1. Ins. by Act 31 of 2001, s. 3 (w.e.f. 9-1-2002).

2. Subs. by Act 38 of 1964, s. 2, for “officers” (w.e.f. 1-4-1965).
3. Subs. by Act 31 of 2001, s. 4 (w.e.f. 9 -1-2002) .

5
 3
[(hh) the duration of period being not more than three years, for which the members of the executive
and other office-bearers of the Trade Union shall be elected;]
(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 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 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 unde r
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.—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 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.—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.
STATE AMENDMENT
Ladakh (UT).—
Section 9.—After “certificate of registration”, “insert with in a period not exceeding thirty days subject to
the fulfillment of other provisions of this Act”.
[Vide Union Territory of Ladakh Reorganisation (Adaptation of Central Laws) Order, 2020, notification No.
S.O. 3774(E), dated (23-10-2020).]
Jammu and Kashmir (UT).—
Substitution of section 9-For section 9, substitute—
9. Certificate of registration.—The Registrar, on registering a Trade Union under section 8, shall issue a
certificate of registration within a period not exceeding thirty days subject to the fulfillment of other provisions
of this Act in the prescribed form which shall be conclusive evidence that the Trade Union has been duly
registered under this Act”.
[Vide Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Adaptation of Central Laws) Order, 2020,
notification No. S.O. 3465(E), dated (5-10-2020).]
4
[9A. Minimum requirement about membership of a Trade Union.—A registered Trade Union of
workmen shall at all times continue to have not less than ten per cent. or one hundred of the workmen,
whichever is less, subject to a minimum of seven, engaged or employed in an establishment or industry with
which it is connected, as its members.]
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 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:
5
[(c) if the Registrar is satisfied that a registered Trade Union of workmen ceases to have the
requisite number of members:]

1. Subs. by Act 38 of 1964, s. 2, for “officers” (w.e.f. 1-4-1965).

2. Subs. by Act 31 of 2001, s. 4, for “appointed” (w.e.f. 9-1-2002).
3. Ins. by s. 4, ibid., (w.e.f. 9-1-2002).
4. Ins. by s. 5, ibid., (w.e.f. 9-1-2002).
5. Ins. by s. 6, ibid., (w.e.f. 9-1-2002).

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.
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
3
[(aa) where the head office is situated in an area, falling within the jurisdiction of a Labour
Court or an Industrial Tribunal, to that Court or Tribunal, as the case may be;]
(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 orig inal jurisdiction,
as the 4[appropriate Government] may appoint in this behalf for that area.
(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.—All communications and notices to a registered Trade 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 Registrar in writing, and the changed
address shall be recorded in the register referred to in section 8.
13. Incorporation of registered Trade Unions.—Every registered Trade Union shall be a
corporate by the name under which it is registered, and shall have perpetual succession and
a body 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.—The following Acts,
namely:—
(a) The Societies Registration Act, 1860 (21 of 1860),
(b) The Co-operative Societies Act, 1912 (2 of 1912),
5
* * * * *
6
[(c) The Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956),]

1. Subs. by Act 15 of 1928, s. 2, for section 11.

2. The words “or of Rangoon” omitted by the A.O. 1937.
3. Ins. by Act 31 of 2001, s. 7 (w.e.f. 9-1-2002).
4. Subs., ibid., for “L.G.”.
5. Clauses (c) and (d) rep. by Act 25 of 1942, s. 2 and the First Schedule.
6. Subs. by Act 42 of 1960, s. 7, for clause ( e).

7
shall not apply to any registered Trade Union, and the registration of any such Trade Union under any
such Act shall be void.
CHAPTER III
RIGHTS AND LIABILITIES OF REGISTERED TRADE UNIONS
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 1[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;
(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 dependant 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 religi ous 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 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
2
[appropriate Government] in the Official Gazette.
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

1. Subs. by Act 38 of 1964, s. 2, for “officers” (w.e.f. 1-4-1965).

2. Subs. by the A.O. 1937, for “G.G in C.”.

8
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 1 [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 legislative body constituted under
1
[the Constitution] or of any local authority; or
(d) the registration of electors or the selection of a candidate for any legislative body constituted
under 1[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.
2
[(2A) In its application to the State of Jammu and Kashmir, references in sub-section (2) to any
legislative body constituted under the 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.—No 3 [office-bearer] or member of a registered
Trade Union shall be liable to punishment under sub-section (2) of section 120B of the 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.—(1) No suit or other legal proceeding shall be
maintainable in any Civil Court against any registered Trade Union or any 3[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.
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 Un ion 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:

1. 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.
2. Ins. by Act 51 of 1970, s. 2 and the Schedule (w.e.f. 1 -9-1971).
3. Subs. by Act 38 of 1964, s. 2, for “officer” (w.e.f. 1-4-1965).

9
 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 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.—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.—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
* * * * *
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 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.]
5
[ 22. Proportion of office-bearers to be connected with the industry.—(1) Not less than one-half
of the total number of the office-bearers of every registered Trade Union in an unorganised sector shall be
persons actually engaged or employed in an industry with which the Trade Union is connected:
Provided that the appropriate Government may, by special or general order, declare that the
provisions of this section shall not apply to any Trade Union or class of Trade Unions specified in the
order.
Explanation.—For the purposes of this section, "unorganised sector" means any sector which the
appropriate Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify.
(2) Save as otherwise provided in sub-section (1), all office-bearers of a registered Trade Union,
except not more than one-third of the total number of the office-bearers or five, whichever is less, shall be
persons actually engaged or employed in the establishment or industry with which the Trade Union is
connected.
Explanation.—For the purposes of this sub-section, an employee who has retired or has been
retrenched shall not be construed as outsider for the purpose of holding an office in a Trade Union.
(3) No member of the Council of Ministers or a person holding an office of profit (not being an
engagement or employment in an establishment or industry with which the Trade Union is connected), in

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 the Schedule (w.e.f. 1-9-1971).
5. Subs. by Act 31 of 2001, s. 8, for section 22 (w.e.f. 9-1-2002).

10
the Union or a State, shall be a member of the executive or other office-bearer of a registered Trade
Union.]
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.—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-half 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.—(1) Notice in writing of every change of
name and 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 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 T rade 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.—(1) The change in the name of a
registered Trade Union shall not affect any rights or obligations of the Trade Union or render
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.—(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, he 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 be en 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.—(1) There shall be sent annually to the Registrar, on or before such date as may
be prescribed, a general statement, 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

1. Subs. by Act 38 of 1964, s. 6, for “March” (w.e.f. 1-4-1965).

11
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
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.]
CHAPTER IV
REGULATIONS
29. Power to make regulations.—(1) 4*** the 5[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 shall be chargeable in respect of such inspections; and
(e) any matte which is to be or may be prescribed.
6
[(3) Every notification made by the Central Government under sub-section (1) of section 22, and
every regulation made by it under sub-section (1) shall be laid, as soon as may be after it is made, before
each House of Parliament, while it is in session, for a total period of thirty days which may be comprised
in one session or in two or more successive sessions, and if, before the expiry of the session immediately
following the session or the successive sessions aforesaid, both Houses agree in making any modification
in the notification or regulation, or both Houses agree that the notification or regulation should not be
made, the notification or regulation shall thereafter have effect only in such modified form or be of no
effect, as the case may be; so, however, that any such modification or annulment shall be without
prejudice to the validity of anything previously done under that notification or regulation.
(4) Every notification made by the State Government under sub-section (1) of section 22 and every
regulation made by it under sub-section (1) shall be laid, as soon as may be after it is made, before the
State Legislature.]

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.
4. The words “Subject to the control of the G.G. in C. ” omitted by the A.O. 1937.
5. Subs. ibid., for “L.G.”.
6. Ins. by Act 31 of 2001, s. 9 (w.e.f. 9-1-2002).

12
 30. Publication of regulations.—(1) The power to make regulations conferred by
section 29 is subject to the condition of the regulati ons 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.
(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 regiatared
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 punis hable with
fine which may extend to five hundred rupees.
32. Supplying false information regarding Trade Unions .—Any 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, o r any
person who, with the like intent, gives a copy of any rules of any 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. Cognizance 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. 1-4-1965).

13