(i) INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES ACT, 1947
The Industrial
Disputes Act, 1947 came into existence in April 1947. It was enacted to make provisions for
investigation and settlement of industrial disputes and for providing certain
safeguards to the workers. The Act
contains 40 sections divided into 7 chapters.
Chapter – I deals with the title, definitions, etc. Chapter – II contains the various
authorities under the Act. These
authorities include Conciliation Officers, Labour
Courts and Tribunals. Chapter – III
contains the main scheme of the Act such as reference of disputes to Labour Courts and Industrial Tribunals. Chapter – IV lays down the procedure, power
and duties of the authorities constituted under the Act. Chapter – V contains provisions to prohibit
strikes and lock-outs, declaration of strikes and lock-outs as illegal, and
provisions relating to lay-off and retrenchment and closure. Chapter-VI contains provisions of various
penalties under the Act. Chapter–VII
contains miscellaneous provisions.