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The INDUSTRIAL EMPLOYMENT (STANDING ORDERS) ACT, 1946

Bihar · state statute
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THE INDUSTRIAL EMPLOYMENT (STANDING ORDERS) ACT, 1946 
_______ 
 
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTION 
_______ 
SECTION 
1.  Short title, extent and application. 
2.   Interpretation. 
3.  Submission of draft standing orders. 
4.  Conditions for certification of standing orders. 
5.  Certification of standing orders. 
6.  Appeals. 
7.  Date of operation of standing orders. 
8.  Register of standing orders. 
9.  Posting of standing orders. 
10.  Duration and modification of standing orders. 
10A. Payment of subsistence allowance. 
11.  Certifying Officers and appellate authorities to have powers of civil court. 
12.  Oral evidence in contradiction of standing orders not admissible. 
12A. Temporary application of model standing orders. 
13.  Penalties and procedure. 
13A. Interpretation, etc., of standing orders. 
13B. Act not to apply to certain industrial establishments. 
14. Power to exempt. 
14A. Delegation of powers. 
15. Power to make rules. 
THE SCHEDULE 
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THE INDUSTRIAL EMPLOYMENT (STANDING ORDERS) ACT, 1946 
ACT NO. 20 OF 19461 
[23rd April, 1946.] 
An Act to require employers in industrial establishments formally to define conditions of 
employment under them. 
WHEREAS it is expedient to require employers in industrial establishments to define with sufficient 
precision the conditions of employment under them and to make the said conditions known to workmen 
employed by them; 
It is hereby enacted as follows:— 
STATE AMENDMENT 
Maharashtra 
Amendment of long title of Act XX of 1946. —In the Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Act, 
1946 (hereinafter referred to as “the said Act” ) for the long title the following shall be substituted, 
namely:-- 
“An Act to provide for defining with sufficient precision certain conditions of employment in 
industrial  establishment in the State of Bombay.” 
[Vide Bombay Act XXI of 1958, s. 2] 
Amendment of preamble of Act XX of 1946 .—In the preamble of the said Act, for the portion 
beginning with the words “to require” and ending with the words “by them”, the words “to provide for 
defining with sufficient precision certain conditions of employment in industrial establishment in the 
State of Bombay, and for certain other matters” shall be substituted. 
[Vide Bombay Act XXI of 1958, s. 3] 
1. Short title, extent and application .—(1) This Act may be called the Industrial Employment 
(Standing Orders) Act, 1946. 
(2) It extends to2[the whole of India 3***]. 
4 [(3) It applies to every industrial establishment wherein one hundred or more workmen are 
employed, or were employed on any day of the preceding twelve months: 
Provided that the appropriate Government may, after giving not less than two months ’ notice of its 
intention so to do, by notification in the Official Gazette, apply the provisions of this Act to any industrial 
establishment employing such number of persons less than one hundred as may be specified in the 
notification. 
5*   *   *        *   * 
6[(4) Nothing in this Act shall apply to— 
                                                           
1. This Act has been extended to— 
    (i) Goa, Daman and Diu by Reg. 12 of 1962, s. 3 and the Sch. 
(ii) Pondicherry by Regulation 7 of 1963, s. 3 and the Sch. I (w.e.f. 1-10-1963), and 
(iii) the whole of the Union territory of Lakshadweep, vide Reg. 8 of 1965, s. 3 and the Sch. 
The Act has been amended in its application to— 
(i) Maharashtra by Maharashtra Act 54 of 1974. 
(ii) Mysore by Mysore Act 37 of 1975. 
(iii) Madras by Madras Act 24 of 1960, and 
(iv) Andhra Pradesh by A. P. Act 9 of 1969. 
2. Subs. by the A.O. 1950, for “all the Provinces of India”. 
3. The words “except the State of Jammu and Kashmir” omitted by Act 51 of 1970, s. 2 (w.e.f. 1-9-1971). 
4. Subs. by Act 16 of 1961, s. 2, for sub-section (3). 
5. Second proviso omitted by Act 39 of 1963, s. 2 (w.e.f. 23-12-1963). 
6. Ins. by s. 2, ibid. (w.e.f. 23-12-1963). 
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(i) any industry to which the  provisions of Chapter VII of the Bombay Industrial Relations Act, 
1946 (Bombay Act 11 of 1947) apply; or 
(ii) any industrial establishment to which the provisions of the Madhya Pradesh Industrial 
Employment (Standing Orders) Act, 1961 (Madhya Pradesh Act 26 of 1961) apply: 
Provided that notwithstanding anything contained in the Madhya Pradesh Industrial Employment 
(Standing Orders) Act, 1961 (Madhya Pradesh Act 26 of 1961), the provisions of this Act shall apply 
to all industrial establishments under the control of the Central Government.] 
STATE AMENDMENT 
Karnataka 
Amendment of section 1. —In section 1 of the Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Act, 1946 
(Central Act 20 of 1946) in its application to the State of Karnataka, for the words “one hundred” 
occurring in sub-section (3) and in the proviso to it, the word “fifty”, shall be substituted. 
[Vide Karnataka Act 37 of 1975, s. 2] 
Maharashtra 
Amendment of section 1 of Act XX of 1946 .—In sub-section (3) of section 1 of the said Act, for the 
words “one hundred” the word “fifty” shall be substituted. 
[Vide Bombay Act XXI of 1958, s. 4] 
2.  Interpretation.—In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context,— 
1[(a) “appellate authority ” means an authority appointed by the appropriate Government by 
notification in the Official Gazette to exercise in such area as may be s pecified in the notification the 
functions of an appellate authority under this Act: 
Provided that in relation to an appeal pending before an Industrial Court or other authority 
immediately before the commencement of the Industrial Employment (Standing Ord ers) Amendment 
Act, 1963 (39 of 1963), that court or authority shall be deemed to be the appellate authority;] 
(b) “appropriate Government” means in respect of industrial establishments under the control of 
the Central Government or a  2[Railway administration] or in a major port, mine or oil -field, the 
Central Government, and in all other cases, the State Government: 
3[Provided that where any question arises as to whether any industrial establishment is under the 
control of the Central Government , that Government may, either on a reference made to it by the 
employer or the workman or a trade union or other representative body of the workmen, or on its own 
motion and after giving the parties an opportunity of being heard, decide the question and su ch 
decision shall be final and binding on the parties;] 
4[(c) “Certifying Officer” means a Labour Commissioner or a Regional Labour Commissioner, 
and includes any other officer appointed by the appropriate Government, by notification in the 
Official Gazette, to perform all or any of the functions of a Certifying Officer under this Act;] 
(d) “employer” means the owner of an industrial establishment to which this Act for the time 
being applies, and includes— 
(i) in a factory, any person named under  5[clause (f) of sub -section ( 1) of section 7, of the 
Factories Act, 1948 (63 of 1948)], as manager of the factory; 
                                                           
1. Subs. by Act 39 of 1963, s. 3, for cl. (a) (w.e.f. 23-12-1963). 
2. Subs. by the A.O. 1950, for “Federal railway”. 
3. Added by Act 18 of 1982, s. 2 (w.e.f. 17-5-1982). 
4. Subs. by Act 16 of 1961, s.3, for cl. (c). 
5. Subs. by s. 3, ibid., “for clause (e) of  sub-clause (1) of section 9 of Factories Act, 1934 (25 of 1934)”. 
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(ii) in any industrial establishment under the control of any department of any Government in 
India, the authority appointed by such Government in this  behalf, or where no authority is so 
appointed, the head of the department; 
(iii) in any other industrial establishment, any person responsible to the owner for the 
supervision and control of the industrial establishment; 
(e) “industrial establishment” means— 
(i) an industrial establishment as defined in clause ( ii) of section 2 of the Payment of Wages 
Act, 1936 (4 of 1936), or 
1[(ii) a factory as defined in clause ( m) of section 2 of the Factories Act, 1948 (63 of 1948), 
or] 
(iii) a railway as defined in clause (4) of section 2 of the Indian Railways Act; 1890 (9 of 
1890), or 
(iv) the establishment of a person who, for the purpose of fulfilling a contract with the owner 
of any industrial establishment, employs workmen; 
(f) “prescribed” means prescribed by rules made by the appropriate Government under this Act; 
(g) “standing orders” means rules relating to matters set out in the Schedule; 
(h) “trade union” means a trade union for the time being registered under the Indian Trade Unions 
Act, 1926 (16 of 1926); 
2[(i) “wages” and “workman” have the meanings respectively assigned to them in clauses (rr) and 
(s) of section 2 of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 (14 of 1947).] 
STATE AMENDMENT 
Maharashtra 
Amendment of section 2 of Act XX of 1946.—In section 2 of the said Act,-- 
(a) before clause (a), insert the following clause, namely:-- 
"(1a) 'amendments' mean in relation to the model standing orders any amendments proposed 
to such orders under section 3 and includes any alterations, variations  or additions proposed 
thereto; 
(b) in clause (d), for sub-clause (iii), substitute the following sub-clause, namely:-- 
"(iii) in any other industrial establishment-- 
(a) any person responsible to the owner for the supervisions and control of the 
industrial establishment; 
(b) where a person who, for the purpose of fulfilling a contract with the owner of the 
industrial establishment, employs workmen on the premises of the establishment for the 
execution of the whole or any part of any work which is ordinarily part of such 
establishment then in relation to such workmen, the owner of the industrial 
establishment; 
(c) in clause (e), delete sub-clause (iv) shall be deleted; 
(d) after clause (e), insert the following clauses, namely:-- 
"(ee) 'model standing orders' mean standing orders prescribed under section 15; 
 (ef) 'modification' includes in relation to a standing order, any alteration, variation, 
addition or deletion in, or to, such order;" 
[Vide Bombay Act XXI of 1958, s. 5] 
                                                           
1. Subs. by Act 16 of 1961,  s. 3, for sub-clause (ii) 
2. Subs. by Act 18 of 1982, s. 2 for cl. (i) (w.e.f. 17-5-1982). 
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Insertion of new section 2A in  Act XX of 1946. —After section 2 of the said Act, the following 
section shall be inserted, namely:-- 
"2A. Application of model standing orders to every industrial establishment.--(1) Where this 
Act applies to an industrial establishment, the model standing  orders for every matter set out in the 
Schedule applicable to such establishment shall apply to such establishment from such date as the 
State Government may by notification in the Official Gazette appoint in this behalf: 
Provided that nothing in this sec tion shall be deemed to affect any standing orders which are 
finally certified under this Act and have come into operation under this Act in respect of any 
industrial establishment before the date of the coming into force of the Industrial Employment 
(Standing Orders) Bombay Amendment) Act, 1957." 
[Vide Bombay Act XXI of 1958, s. 6] 
Maharashtra 
Amendment of section 2 of Act XX of 1946 .—In section 2  of the Industrial Employment (Standing 
Orders) act, 1946, in clause (d),-- 
(1) for sub-clause (iii) the following shall be substituted, namely:-- 
“(iii) in any other industrial establishment— 
(a) any person responsible to the owner for the supervision and control of the industrial 
establishment; 
(b) where a person who for the purpose of fulfilling a contract  with the owner of the 
industrial establishment employs workmen on the premises of the establishment for the 
execution of the whole or any part of any work which is ordinarily part of such establishment 
then in relation to such workmen, the owner of the industrial establishment; 
(2) sub-clause (iv) shall be, deleted; 
[Vide Bombay Act XXXVI of 1956, s. 2] 
Maharashtra 
Amendment of section 2A of Act XX of 1946. —In the Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) 
Act, 1946, in its application to the State of Maharashtra (hereinafter, referred to as the “Principal Act”), 
section 2A shall be renumbered as sub -section (1) of that section, and after sub -section (1) so 
renumbered, the following new sub-section shall be added, namely:-- 
“(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in the proviso to sub -section (1), model standing orders 
made in respect of additional matters included in the Schedule after the coming into force of the Act 
referred to in that proviso (being additional matters relating to probationers or badlis or temporary or 
casual workmen) shall unless such model standing orders are in the opinion of Certifying Officer less 
advantageous to them than the corresponding standing orders applicable to them under the said 
proviso also apply in relation to suc h workmen in the establishments referred to in the said proviso 
from such date as the State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint in this 
behalf. " 
[Vide Maharashtra Act LIV of 1974, s. 2] 
3. Submission of draft standing orders .—(1) Within six months from the date on which this Act 
becomes applicable to an industrial establishment, the employer shall submit to the Certifying Officer five 
copies of the draft standing orders proposed by him for adoption in his industrial establishment. 
(2) Provision shall be made in such draft for every matter set out in the Schedule which may be 
applicable to the industrial establishment, and where model standing orders have been prescribed, shall 
be, so far as is practicable, in conformity with such model. 
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(3) The draft standing orders submitted under this section shall be accompanied by a statement giving 
prescribed particulars of the workmen employed in the industrial establishment including the name of the 
trade union, if any, to which they belong. 
(4) Subject to such conditions as may be prescribed, a group of employers in similar industrial 
establishments may submit a joint draft of standing orders under this section. 
STATE AMENDMENT 
Karnataka 
Substitution of section 3 .—For section 3 of the Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Act, 1946 
(hereinafter referred to as the principal Act), the following shall be substituted, namely:-- 
“3. Submission of Standing Orders .—(1) Within six months from the date on which the 
Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) (Karnataka Amendmen t) Act, 2005 becomes applicable  to 
an industrial establishment, the employer shall prepare the Standin g Orders proposed by him for 
adoption in his industrial establishment. 
(2) The Standing Order prepared as required under sub -section (1) shall refer to every matter set 
out in the schedule which may be applicable to the Industrial establishment and where Mo del 
Standing Orders have been prescribed shall be so far as is practicable in conformity with such Mode l 
Standing Order. 
(3) The Standing Orders so prepared shall be discussed with the Trade unions existing in the 
Industrial establishment or representatives of the workmen, before adoption and the employee 
providing proof thereof: 
Provided no Standing Order adopted under this sub -section shall be effective unless a copy 
thereof as adopted is sent to the Certifying Officer by Registered Post Acknowledgement due and the 
acknowledgement therefor is received and filed. 
(4) If there is no dispute with regard to the clauses and matters set out in the Standing Orders 
drafted by the employer of the Industrial Establishment, then it shall be adopted in t he Industrial 
Establishment as if it is certified under this Act and a copy thereof shall be sent immediately to the 
Certifying Authority by Registered Post Acknowledgement Due. 
(5) If there is any dispute or disagreement with regard to the adoption of any clauses or matter set 
out in the schedule between the employer and the trade Union or workmen representatives, then such 
Standing Orders drafted by the employer shall be submitted to the Certifying Officer notified under 
the rules with thirty days from the date of dispute, for adoption in the Industrial establishment.” 
[Vide Karnataka Act 12 of 2014, s. 2] 
Maharashtra 
Amendment of section 3 of Act XX of 1946.—In section 3 of the said Act,-- 
(a) for sub-section (1), the following shall be substituted, namely:-- 
"(1) Within six months from the date on which the model standing orders apply to any 
industrial establishment under section 2A, the employer or any workman employed therein may 
submit to the Certifying Officer five copies of the draft amendments for adoption in such 
industrial establishment: 
Provided that no amendment which provides for the deletion or omission of any rule in the 
model standing orders relating to any matter set out in the Schedule shall be submitted under this 
section;" 
(b) sub-section (2) shall be deleted. 
(c) in sub -section (3), for the words "draft standing orders, substitute "draft amendments"  
shall be substituted. 
  
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(d) in sub -section (4), for the words "draft of standing orders", substitute "draft of 
amendments". 
(e) for the marginal note,  the marginal note "Submission of amendments."  Shall be 
substituted. 
[Vide Bombay XXI of 1958, s. 7] 
4. Conditions for certification of standing orders .—Standing orders shall be certifiable under this 
Act if— 
(a) provision is made therein for every matter set out in the Schedule which is  applicable to the 
industrial establishment, and 
(b) the standing orders are otherwise in conformity with the provisions of this Act; 
and it 1[shall be the function] of the Certifying Officer or appellate authority to adjudicate upon the 
fairness or reasonableness of the provisions of any standing orders. 
STATE AMENDMENT 
Karnataka 
Amendment of section 4 .-In section 4 of the principal Act, for the words “Standing Orders shall be 
certifiable”, the words, brackets and figures “In the event of submitting the draft Standing Order under 
sub-section (5) of the section 3, the Standing Orders shall be certifiable” shall be substituted. 
[Vide Karnataka Act 12 of 2014, s. 3] 
Maharashtra 
Deletion of section 4 of Act XX of 1946.—Section 4 of the said Act shall be deleted. 
[Vide Bombay Act XXI of 1958, s. 8] 
5. Certification of standing orders .—(1) On receipt of the draft under section 3, the Certifying 
Officer shall forward a copy thereof to the trade union, if any, of the workmen, or where there is no such 
trade union, to the workmen in such manner as may be prescribed, together with a notice in the prescribed 
form requiring objections, if any, which the workmen may desire to make to the draft standing orders to 
be submitted to him within fifteen days from the receipt of the notice. 
(2) After giving the employer and the trade union or such other representatives of the workmen as 
may be prescribed an opportunity of being heard, the Certifying Officer shall decide whether or not any 
modification of or addition to the draft submitted by the employer is necessary to render the draft standing 
orders certifiable under this Act, and shall make an order in writing accordingly. 
(3) The Certifying Officer shall thereupon certify the draft standing orders, after making any 
modifications therein which his order under sub -section ( 2) may require, and shall within seven days 
thereafter send copies of the certified standing orders authenticated in the prescribed manner and of his 
order under sub-section (2) to the employer and to t he trade union or other prescribed representatives of 
the workmen. 
STATE AMENDMENT 
Karnataka 
Amendment of section 5 .-In section 5 of the principal Act, in sub -section (1), for the word and the 
figure “section 3”, the words, brackets and figure “sub-section (5) of section 3” shall be substituted. 
[Vide Karnataka Act 12 of 2014, s. 4] 
  
                                                           
1. Subs. by Act 36 of 1956, s. 32 for “shall not be the function” (w.e.f.17-9-1956). 
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Maharashtra 
Amendment of section 5 of Act XX of 1946.—In section 5 of the said Act,-- 
(a) in sub-section (1),-- 
(i) after the words "as may be prescribed", insert "or the employer, as the case may be", 
and after the word "workmen" where it occurs for the third time, insert "or employer"; 
(ii) for the words "draft standing orders", substitute the words "draft amendments". 
(b) in sub-section (2),-- 
(i) after the words "giving the employer", insert "the workmen submitting the 
amendments"; 
(ii) delete the words "or addition to"; 
(iii) for the words "the draft submitted by the employer is necessary to render the draft 
standing orders certifiable under this Act", substitute "the draft submitted under sub -section 
(1) of section 3 is necessary". 
(c) in sub-section (3),-- 
(i) for the words "certify the draft standing orders", substitute "certify the draft 
amendments"; 
(ii) for th e words "certified standing orders", substitute "model standing orders together 
with copies of the certified amendments thereof". 
(d) in the marginal note, for the words "standing orders", substitute the word "amendments". 
[Vide Bombay Act XXI of 1958, s. 9] 
6. Appeals.—(1)1[Any employer, workmen, trade union or other prescribed representatives of the 
workmen] aggrieved by the order of the Certifying Officer under sub -section ( 2) of section 5 may, 
within2[thirty days] from the date on which copies are sent under sub-section (3) of that section, appeal to 
the appellate authority, and the appellate authority, whose decision shall be final, shall by order in writing 
confirm the standing orders either in the form certified by the Certifying Officer or after amen ding the 
said standing orders by making such modifications thereof or additions thereto as it thinks necessary to 
render the standing orders certifiable under this Act. 
(2) The appellate authority shall, within seven days of its order under sub -section ( 1), send copies 
thereof to the Certifying Officer, to the employer and to the trade union or other prescribed 
representatives of the workmen, accompanied, unless it has confirmed without amendment the standing 
orders as certified by the Certifying Officer, by copies of the standing orders as certified by it and 
authenticated in the prescribed manner. 
STATE AMENDMENT 
Maharashtra 
Amendment of section 6 of Act XX of 1946.—In section 6 of the said Act,-- 
(a) in sub-section (1) for the portion beginning with "confirm the standing orders" and ending 
with "certifiable under this Act", substitute the following, namely: -- "confirm the amendments 
either in the form certified by the Certifying Officer or after further modifying the same as the 
appellate authority thinks necessary." 
(b) in sub-section (2),-- 
(i) for the  words "unless it has confirmed without amendment the standing orders", 
substitute "unless it has confirmed without further modifications the amendments"; 
(ii) for the words "by copies of the standing orders", substitute " by copies of the model 
standing orders together with the amendments". 
[Vide Bombay Act XXI of 1958, s. 10] 
                                                           
1. Subs. by Act 18 of 1982, s. 3, for “Any person” (w.e.f. 17-5-1982). 
2. Subs. by Act 16 of 1961, s. 4, for “twenty-one days”. 
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7. Date of operation of standing orders.—Standing orders shall, unless an appeal is preferred under 
section 6, come into operation on the expiry of thirty days from the date on which authenticated copies 
thereof are sent under sub -section (3) of section 5, or where an appeal as aforesaid is preferred, on the 
expiry of seven days from the date on which copies of the order of the appellate authority are  sent under 
sub-section (2) of section 6. 
STATE AMENDMENT 
Karnataka 
Amendment of section 7 .-Section 7 shall be renumbered as sub -section (2), thereof and before sub -
section (2) as so renumbered, the following shall be inserted, namely:- 
“(1) Standing Orders ass adopted under sub -section (4) of section 3 shall come into operation on the 
expiry of 30 days from the date on with the employer and the trade union or workmen representatives 
agree to adopt the standing orders.” 
[Vide Karnataka Act 12 of 2014, s. 5] 
Maharashtra 
Amendment of section 7 of Act XX of 1946 . –In section 7 of the said Act and in the marginal note 
thereto, after the words “standing orders” the words “or amendments” shall be inserted. 
[Vide Bombay Act XXI of 1958, s. 11] 
8. Register of standing orders .—A copy of all standing orders as finally certified under this Act 
shall be filed by the Certifying Officer in a register in the prescribed form maintained for the purpose, and 
the Certifying Officer shall furnish a copy thereof to any pers on applying therefore on payment of the 
prescribed fee. 
STATE AMENDMENT 
Karnataka 
Amendment of section 8 .-In section 8 of the principal Act, after the words “finally certified”, the 
words “or adopted” shall be inserted. 
[Vide Karnataka Act 12 of 2014, s. 6] 
Maharashtra 
Amendment of section 8 of Act XX of 1946.—In section 8 of the said Act,-- 
(a) After the words "all standing orders", insert the words "or model standing orders together with 
all the amendments" shall be inserted; 
(b) in the marginal note, after the words "standing orders", insert "and model standing orders 
together with all certified amendments" shall be inserted. 
[Vide Bombay Act XXI of 1958, s. 12] 
9. Posting of standing orders .—The text of the standing orders as finally certified un der this Act 
shall be prominently posted by the employer in English and in the language understood by the majority of 
his workmen on special boards to be maintained for the purpose at or near the entrance through which the 
majority of the workmen enter the  industrial establishment and in all departments thereof where the 
workmen are employed. 
  
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STATE AMENDMENT 
Karnataka 
Amendment of section 9 .—In section 9 of the principal Act, after the words “finally certified”, the 
words “or adopted” shall be inserted. 
[Vide Karnataka Act 12 of 2014, s. 7] 
Maharashtra 
Amendment of section 9 of Act XX of 1946.—In section 9 of the said Act,-- 
(a) after the words "standing orders", insert the words "or model standing orders together with all 
the amendments"; 
(b) in the marginal note, after the words "standing orders", insert the words "and model standing 
orders together with all certified amendments" 
[Vide Bombay Act XXI of 1958, s. 13] 
10. Duration and modification of standing orders .—(1) Standing orders finally certified under this 
Act shall not, except on agreement between the employer and the workmen 1[or a trade union or other 
representative body of the workmen] , be liable to modification until the expiry of six months from the 
date on which the standing orders or the last modifications thereof came into operation. 
2[(2) Subject to the provisions of sub -section (1), an employer or workman 1[or a trade union or other 
representative body of the workmen] may apply to the Certifying Officer to have the standing order s 
modified, and such application shall be accompanied by five copies of 3*** the modifications proposed to 
be made, and where such modifications are proposed to be made by agreement between the employer and 
the workmen 1[or a trade union or other representative body of the workmen] , a certified copy of that 
agreement shall be filed along with the application.] 
(3) The foregoing provisions of this Act shall apply in respect of an application under sub -section (2) 
as they apply to the certification of the first standing orders. 
4[(4) Nothing contained in sub -section ( 2) shall apply to an industrial establishment in respect of 
which the appropriate Government is the Government of the State of Gujarat or the Government of the 
State of Maharashtra.] 
STATE AMENDMENT 
Karnataka 
Amendment of section 10.-In section 10 of the principal Act,- 
(i) in sub-section (1), after the words finally certified”, the words “or adopted” shall be inserted; 
(ii) after sub-section (2) the following proviso shall be inserted, namely:- 
“Provided that nothing in this sub -section shall be applicable in case of modifications 
mutually agreed by an employer, workmen or a trade union or other representative body of the 
workmen and such modifications shall be effected under sub-sections (3) and (4) of section 3.” 
[Vide Karnataka Act 12 of 2014, s. 8] 
Maharashtra 
Amendment of section 10 of Act XX of 1946.—In section 10 of the said Act,-- 
(a) in sub-section (1),-- 
                                                           
1.  Ins. by Act 18 of 1982, s. 4 (w.e.f. 17-5-1982). 
2. Subs. by Act 36 of 1956, s. 32, for sub-section (2) (w.e.f. 17-9-1956). 
3. Certain words omitted by Act 39 of 1963, s. 4 (w.e.f. 23-12-1963). 
4. Ins. by s. 4, ibid. (w.e.f. 23-12-1963). 
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(i) after the words "standing orders", at both the places where they occur, "or the 
amendments"; shall be inserted; 
(ii) after the words "came into operation", add the following:-- 
"and where model standing orders have not been amended as aforesaid, the model 
standing orders shall not be liable to such modification until the expiry of one year from the 
date on which they were applied under section 2A". 
(b) for sub-section (2), substitute the following sub-section, namely:-- 
"(2) Subject to the provisions of sub-section (1), an employer, workman or any prescribed 
representatives of workmen desiring to modify the standing orders or the model standing 
orders together with the amendments, as finally certified under this Act, or the model 
standing orders applied under section 2A, as the case may be, shall make an application to the 
Certifying Officer in that behalf, and such application shall be accompanied by five copies of 
the standing orders, or the model standing orders, together with all amendments thereto as 
certified under this Act or model standing orders in which shall be indicated the 
modifications proposed to be made and where such modifications are proposed to be made by 
agreement between the employer and workmen a certified copy of the agreement shall b e 
filed along with the application" 
[Vide Bombay Act XXI of 1958, s. 14] 
Maharashtra 
Amendment of section 10 of Act XX of 1946. —In section 10 of the principal Act in sub-section (4), 
the words “or the Government of the State of Maharashtra” shall be deleted. 
[Vide Maharashtra Act LIV of 1974, s. 3] 
1[10A.  Payment of subsistence allowance.—(1) Where any workmen is suspended by the employer 
pending investigation or inquiry into complaints or charges of misconduct against him, the employer shall 
pay to such workman subsistence allowance— 
(a) at the rate of fifty per cent . of the wages which the workman was entitled to immediately 
preceding the date of such suspension, for the first ninety days of suspension; and 
(b) at the rate of seventy -five per cent . of such wages for the remaining period of suspension if 
the delay in the completion of disciplinary proceedings against such workman is not directly 
attributable to the conduct of such workman. 
(2) If any dispute arises regarding the subsistence allowance pay able to a workman under sub-section 
(1) the workman or the employer concerned may refer the dispute to the Labour Court, constituted under 
the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 (14 of 1947), within the local limits of whose jurisdiction the industrial 
establishment wherein such workman is employed is situate and the Labour Court to which the dispute is 
so referred shall, after giving the parties an opportunity of being heard, decide the dispute and such 
decision shall be final and binding on the parties. 
(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in the foregoing provisions of this section, where provisions 
relating to payment of subsistence allowance under any other law for the time being in force in any State 
are more beneficial than the provisions of this section, the provisions of such other law shall be applicable 
to the payment of subsistence allowance in that State.] 
11. Certifying Officers and appellate authorities to have powers of civil court .—2[(1)] Every 
Certifying Officer and appellate authority shall  have all the powers of a Civil Court for the purposes of 
receiving evidence, administering oaths, enforcing the attendance of witnesses, and compelling the 
                                                           
1. Ins. by Act 18 of 1982, s. 5 (w.e.f. 17-5-1982). 
2.  S. 11 renumbered as sub-section (1) thereof by Act 39 of 1963, s. 5 (w.e.f. 23-12-1963). 
12 
 
discovery and production  of documents, and shall be deemed to be a civil court within the meaning o f 
1[sections 345 and 346 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974).] 
2[(2) Clerical or arithmetical mistakes in any order passed by a Certifying Officer or appellate 
authority, or errors arising therein from any accidental slip or omission may, at any time, be corrected by 
that Officer or authority or the successor in office of such Officer or authority, as the case may be.] 
12. Oral evidence in contradiction of standing orders not admissible .—No oral evidence having 
the effect of adding to or otherwise varying or contradicting standing orders as finally certified under this 
Act shall be admitted in any Court. 
STATE AMENDMENT 
Karnataka 
Amendment of section 12 .-In section 12 of the principal Act, after the words “finally certified”, the 
words “or adopted” shall be inserted. 
[Vide Karnataka Act 12 of 2014, s. 9] 
Maharashtra 
Amendment of section 12 of Act XX of 1946.—In section 12 of the said Act,-- 
(a) for the words " standing orders as finally certified under this Act ” the words “standing orders 
or the model standing orders, or model standing standing orders ” with all the amendments as finally  
under this Act, as case may be,” shall be substituted. 
(b) in the marginal note, for the words “standing order” the words “standing orders, etc,” shall be 
substituted. 
[Vide Bombay Act XXI of 1958, s. 15] 
3[12A. Temporary application of model standing orders.—(1) Notwithstanding anything contained 
in sections 3 to 12, for the period commencing on the date on which this Act becomes applicable to an 
industrial establishment and ending with the date on which the standing orders as finally certified under 
this Act come into operation under section 7 in that establishment, the prescribed model standing orders 
shall be deemed to be adopted in that e stablishment, and the provisions of section 9, sub -section (2) of 
section 13 and section 13A shall apply to such model standing orders as they apply to the standing orders 
so certified. 
(2) Nothing contained in sub-section (1) shall apply to an industrial establishment in respect of which 
the appropriate Government is the Government of the State of Gujarat or the Government of the State of 
Maharashtra.] 
STATE AMENDMENT 
Karnataka 
Amendment of section 12A .- In section 12A of the principal Act, after the words  “finally certified”, 
the words “or adopted” shall be inserted. 
[Vide Karnataka Act 12 of 2014, s. 10] 
13. Penalties and procedure.—(1) An employer who fails to submit draft standing orders as required 
by section 3, or who modifies his standing orders otherwise than in accordance with section 10, shall be 
punishable with fine which may extend to five thousand rupees, and in the case of a continuing offence 
with a further fine which may extend to two hundred rupees for every day after the first during wh ich the 
offence continues. 
                                                           
1. Subs. by Act 18 of 1982, s. 6, for “sections 480 and 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (5 of 1898)”                        
(w.e.f. 17-5-1982). 
2. Ins. by Act 39 of 1963, s. 5 (w.e.f. 23-12-1963). 
3. Ins. by Act 39 of 1963, s. 6 (w.e.f. 23-12-1963). 
13 
 
(2) An employer who does any act in contravention of the standing orders finally certified under this 
Act or his industrial establishment shall be punishable with fine which may extend to one hundred rupees, 
and in the case of a continuing offence with a further fine which may extend to twenty -five rupees for 
every day after the first during which the offence continues. 
(3) No prosecution for an offence punishable under this section shall be instituted except with the 
previous sanction of the appropriate Government. 
(4) No Court inferior to that of 1[a Metropolitan Magistrate or Judicial Magistrate of the second class] 
shall try any offence under this section. 
STATE AMENDMENT 
Karnataka 
Amendment of section 13.-In section 13 of the principal Act,- 
(i) in sub -section (1), after the words and figure “ Standing Orders as required by section 3”, the 
words and figures “or who fails to adopt Standing Orders as required by sub -section (4) of section 3” 
shall be inserted; 
(ii) in sub-section (2), after the words “finally certified”, the words “or adopted” shall be inserted. 
[Vide Karnataka Act 12 of 2014, s. 11] 
Maharashtra 
Amendment of section 13 of Act XX of 1946.—(a) in sub-section (1),-- 
(i) for "who fails to submit draft standing orders as required by section 3, or who modifies his 
standing orders", substitute "who modifies the standing o rders, model standing orders or 
amendments"; 
(ii) for "section 10", substitute "the provisions of this Act"; 
(iii) for "shall be punishable", substitute "shall on conviction, be punished". 
(b) in sub-section (2), for the words "the standing orders finally certified under this Act for his 
industrial establishment shall be punishable", substitute the words "the standing orders, model 
standing orders or the amendments as finally certified under th is Act for his industrial establishment, 
as the case may be, shall, on conviction, be punished" shall be substituted. 
(c) after sub-section (2), insert the following sub-sections, namely:-- 
"(2A) Whoever contravenes the provisions of this Act or of any rule made thereunder in cases 
other than those falling under sub-section (1) or sub-section (2), shall, on conviction, be punished 
with fine which may extend to one hundred rupees and in the event of such person being 
previously convicted of an offence under this Act, with fine w hich may extend to two hundred 
rupees and in the case of a continuing offence with a further fine which may extend to twenty -
five rupees for every day after the first during which the offence continues. 
(2B) The Court convicting an employer under sub -section (1) or sub -section (2) may direct 
such employer to pay such compensation as it may determine to any workman directly and 
adversely affected by the modification or contravention of the standing orders, model standing 
orders or amendments, as the case may be. 
(2C) The compensation awarded under sub-section (2B) may be recovered as if it were a fine 
and if it cannot be so recovered, the person by whom it is payable shall be sentenced to 
imprisonment of either description for a term not exceeding three months as the Court thinks fit". 
[Vide Bombay Act XXI of 1958, s. 15] 
  
                                                           
1. Subs. by Act 18 of 1982, s. 7, for “a Metropolitation Magistrate or Judicial Magistrate of the second class” (w.e.f. 17-5-1982). 
14 
 
 
1[13A. Interpretation, etc., of standing orders .—If any question arises as to the application or 
interpretation of a standing order certified under this Act, any employer or workman  2[or a trade union or 
other representative body of the workmen] may refer the question to any one of the Labour  Courts 
constituted under the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 (14 of 1947), and specified for the disposal of such 
proceeding by the appropriate Government by notification in the Official Gazette, and the Labour Court 
to which the question is so referred shall, after giving the parties an opportunity of being heard, decide the 
question and such decision shall be final and binding on the parties. 
STATE AMENDMENT 
Karnataka 
Amendment of section 13-A.-In section 13-A of the principal Act, after the words “Standing Orders 
Certified the words “or adopted” shall be inserted. 
[Vide Karnataka Act 12 of 2014, s. 12] 
Maharashtra 
Amendment of section 13A of Act XX of 1946 .— In section 13A, after the words "standing order" 
and in the marginal note thereto after the words "standing orders", insert the words "model standing order 
or amendments"; and after the word "workman", insert "or any prescribed representatives of workmen". 
[Vide Bombay Act XXI of 1958, s. 17] 
13B. Act not to apply to certain industrial establishments.—Nothing in this Act shall apply to an 
industrial establishment in so far as the workmen employed therein are persons to whom the Fundamental 
and Supplementary Rules, Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, Civil Services 
(Temporary Services) Rules, Revised Leave Rules, Civil Service Regulations, Civilians in Defence 
Service (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules or the Indian Railway Establishment Code or any 
other rules or regulations that may be notified in this behalf by the appropriate Government in the Official 
Gazette, apply.] 
STATE AMENDMENT 
Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh (UTs).— 
Insertion of new section—After section 13B, insert— 
“13C. Compounding of offences .—(1) Any offence punishable under the Act may, either before or 
after the institution of the prosecution, on an application by the alleged offender, be compounded by 
payment of compounding amount of not more than rupees fifty thousand, by such officer or authority as 
the appropriate Government may, by notific ation in the official Gazette, specify in this behalf for the 
amount of rupees fifty thousand: 
Provided that the appropriate Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, amend the said 
specified compounding amount: 
Provided further that the off ences of the same nature committed by the same offender for more than 
three occasions shall not be compoundable: 
Provided also that such offences shall be compounded only after the alleged offender has acted to the 
satisfaction of such officer or authority that such offence is not continued any further. 
(2) Where an offence has been compounded under sub -section (1), no further proceedings shall be 
taken against the offender in respect of such offence and the offender, if in custody, sh all be released or 
discharged.”. 
[Vide Union Territory of Ladakh Reorganisation (Adaptation of Central Laws) Order, 2020, notification 
No. S.O. 3774(E), dated (23-10-2020) and Vide Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir  Reorganisation 
(Adaptation of Central Laws) Order, 2020, notification No. S.O. 3465(E), dated (5-10-2020).] 
                                                           
1. Ins. by Act 36 of 1956, s. 32 (w.e.f. 10-3-1957). 
2. Ins. by Act 18 of 1982, s. 8 (w.e.f. 17-5-1982). 
15 
 
14. Power to exempt .—The appropriate Government may by notification in the Official Gazette 
exempt, conditionally or unconditionally, any industrial establishment or class of industrial 
establishments from all or any of the provisions of this Act. 
1[14A. Delegation of powers .—The appropriate Government may, by notification in the Official 
Gazette, direct that any power exercisable by it under this Act or any rules made thereunder shall, in 
relation to such m atters and subject to such conditions, if any, as may be specified in the direction, be 
exercisable also— 
(a) where the appropriate Government is the Central Government, by such officer or authority 
subordinate to the Central Government or by the State Government or by such officer or authority 
subordinate to the State Government, as may be specified in the notification; 
(b) where the appropriate Government is a State Government, by such officer or authority 
subordinate to the State Government as may be specified in the notification.] 
15. Power to make rules .—(1) The appropriate Government may, after previous publication, by 
notification in the Official Gazette, make rules to carry out the purposes of this Act. 
(2) In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, such rules may— 
(a) prescribe additional matters to be included in the Schedule, and the procedure to be followed 
in modifying standing orders certified under this Act in accordance with any such addition; 
(b) set out model standing orders for the purposes of this Act; 
(c) prescribe the procedure of Certifying Officers and appellate authorities; 
(d) prescribe the fee which may be charged for copies of standing orders entered in the register of 
standing orders; 
(e) provide for any other matter which is to be or may be prescribed:  
Provided that before any rules are made under clause ( a) representatives of both employers and 
workmen shall be consulted by the appro

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