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The PAYMENT OF BONUS ACT, 1965

Punjab · state statute
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 THE PAYMENT OF BONUS ACT, 1965 
   
 ACT NO. 21 OF 1965 
   
 [25th September, 1965.] 
   
  
 1*[An Act  to provide  for the payment of bonus to persons employed in 
 certain establishments  on the  basis of  profits or  on the  basis of 
 production or productivity and for matters connected therewith.] 
  
      BE it enacted by Parliament in the Sixteenth Year of the Republic 
 of India as follows:-- 
  
   
 1. 
   
 Short title extent and application. 
   
  
      1. Short title extent and application.- (1) This Act may be 
called 
 the Payment of Bonus Act, 1965. 
  
      (2) It extends to the whole of India 2***. 
  
      (3) Save as otherwise provided in this Act, it shall apply to-- 
  
           (a) every factory; and 
  
           (b) every  other  establishment  in  which  twenty  or  more 
                persons are  employed on  any day  during an accounting 
                year: 
  
      3*[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 
 with effect  from such  accounting year  as may  be specified  in  the 
 notification,  to   any  establishment   or  class  of  establishments 
 [including an establishment being a factory within the meaning of sub- 
 clause (ii) of clause (m) of section 2 of the Factories Act, 1948  (63 
 of 1948)] employing such number of persons less than twenty as may be 
 specified in the notification; so, however, that the number of persons 
 so specified shall in no case be less than ten.] 
  
      (4) Save  as otherwise  provided in  this Act,  the provisions of 
 this Act  shall, in  relation to  a factory  or other establishment to 
 which this  Act applies, have effect in respect of the accounting year 
 commencing on  any day  in the  year 1964  and  in  respect  of  every 
 subsequent accounting year: 
  
      4*[Provided that  in relation  to the State of Jammu and kashmir, 
 the reference to the accounting year commencing on any day in the year 
 1964 and  every subsequent  accounting  year  shall  be  construed  as 
 reference to  the accounting  year commencing  on any  day in the year 
 1968 and every subsequent accounting year:] 
 --------------------------------------------------------------------- 
 1.   Subs. by  Act 23  of 1976, s. 2, for the long title (w.e.f. 25-9- 
      1975). 
 2.   The words  "except the State of Jammu and Kashmir" omitted by Act 
      51 of 1970, s. 2 and Sch. 
 3.   Ins. by Act 23 of 1976, s. 3 (w.e.f. 25-9-1975). 
 4.   Added by Act 51 of 1970, s. 2 and Sch. (w.e.f. 1-9-1971). 
  
 426 
  
      1*[Provided further  that when  the provisions  of this  Act have 
 been made  applicable to  any establishment or class of establishments 
 by the  issue of  a notification under the proviso to sub-section (3), 
 the reference to the accounting year commencing on any day in the year 
 1964 and  every subsequent accounting year or, as the case may be, the 
 reference to  the accounting  year commencing  on any  day in the year 
 2
 1968 and  every subsequent accounting year, shall, in relation to such 
 establishment or  class of establishments, be construed as a reference 
 to the  accounting year  specified  in  such  notification  and  every 
 subsequent accounting year.] 
  
     (5) An establishment to which this Act applies 2*** shall continue 
 to be  governed by this Act notwithstanding that the number of persons 
 employed therein  falls below  twenty 1*[or,  as the  case may be, the 
 number specified  in the notification issued under the proviso to sub- 
 section (3)]. 
  
   
 2. 
   
 Definitions. 
   
  
      2.  Definitions.-  In  this  Act, unless  the  context  otherwise 
 requires,-- 
  
           (1) "accounting year" means-- 
  
                     (i) in  relation to a corporation, the year ending 
                on the  day on  which the  books and  accounts  of  the 
                corporation are to be closed and balanced; 
  
                     (ii) in  relation to  a  company,  the  period  in 
                respect of  which any  profit and  loss account  of the 
                company laid  before it  in annual  general meeting  is 
                made up, whether that period is a year or not; 
  
                     (iii) in any other case-- 
  
                               (a) the  year commencing  on the 1st day 
                          of April; or 
  
                               (b) if  the accounts of an establishment 
                          maintained by the employer thereof are closed 
                          and balanced  on any  day other than the 31st 
                          day of  March, then,  at the  option  of  the 
                          employer, the year ending on the day on which 
                          its accounts are so closed and balanced: 
  
                          Provided that an option once exercised by the 
                     employer under  paragraph (b)  of this  sub-clause 
                     shall not  again  be  exercised  except  with  the 
                     previous permission  in writing  of the prescribed 
                     authority  and   upon  such   conditions  as  that 
                     authority may think fit; 
  
           (2) "agricultural  income" shall have the same meaning as in 
                the Income-tax Act; 
 --------------------------------------------------------------------- 
 1.   Ins. by Act 23 of 1976, s. 3 (w.e.f. 25-9-1975). 
 2.   The words,  brackets, letter and figure "under clause (b) of sub- 
      section (3)" omitted by s. 3, ibid. (w.e.f. 25-9-1975). 
  
 427 
  
           (3) "agricultural  income-tax" means  any law  for the  time 
                being  in   force  relating  to  the  levy  of  tax  on 
                agricultural income; 
  
           (4) "allocable surplus" means-- 
  
                     (a) in  relation to  an employer,  being a company 
                1*[(other than  a banking  company)] which has not made 
                the arrangements  prescribed under  the Income-tax  Act 
                for the  declaration and  payment within  India of  the 
                dividends payable out of its profits in accordance with 
                the provisions  of section 194 of that Act, sixty-seven 
                per cent.  of the  available surplus  in an  accounting 
                year; 
 3
  
                     (b) in  any other  case, sixty  per cent.  of such 
                available surplus; 
  
           2*               *              *             *            * 
  
           (5) "appropriate Government" means-- 
  
                     (i) in  relation to an establishment in respect of 
                which the  appropriate Government  under the Industrial 
                Disputes Act,  1947  (14  of  1947),  is   the  Central 
                Government, the Central Government; 
  
                     (ii) in  relation to  any other establishment, the 
                Government  of   the  State   in   which   that   other 
                establishment is situate; 
  
           (6) "available surplus" means the available surplus computed 
                under section 5; 
  
           (7) "award" means an interim or a final determination of any 
                industrial dispute  or of any question relating thereto 
                by any  Labour Court,  Industrial Tribunal  or National 
                Tribunal constituted under the Industrial Disputes Act, 
                1947  (14   of  1947),   or   by  any  other  authority 
                constituted under  any corresponding  law  relating  to 
                investigation and  settlement of industrial disputes in 
                force in a State and includes an arbitration award made 
                under section 10A of that Act or under that law; 
  
           (8) "banking  company" means a banking company as defined in 
                section 5  of the  Banking Companies  Act, 1949  (10 of 
                1949), and  includes  the  State  Bank  of  India,  any 
                subsidiary bank  as defined  in the State Bank of India 
                (Subsidiary Banks)  Act, 1959  (38  of  1959),   3*[any 
                corresponding new  bank specified in the First Schedule 
                to the  Banking Companies  (Acquisition and Transfer of 
                Undertakings)  Act,   1970    (5   of   1970).   1*[any 
                corresponding new  bank constituted  under section 3 of 
                the    Banking     Companies      (Acquisition      and 
 --------------------------------------------------------------------- 
 1.   Ins. by Act 66 of 1980, s. 2 (w.e.f. 21-8-1980). 
 2.   Certain words omitted by Act 23 of 1976, s. 4 (w.e.f. 25-9-1975). 
 3.   Ins. by s. 4, ibid. (w.e.f. 25-9-1975). 
  
 428 
  
                Transfer of Undertakings) Act, 1980 (66 of 1980 ),] any 
                co-operative bank as defined in clause (bii) of section 
                2 of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 (2 of  1934),] 
                and any other banking institution which may be notified 
                in this behalf by the Central Government; 
  
           (9) "company"  means any  company as defined in section 3 of 
                the Companies  Act, 1956  (1 of  1956),  and includes a 
                foreign company  within the  meaning of  section 591 of 
                that Act; 
  
           (10) "co-operative  society" means  a society  registered or 
                deemed  to   be  registered   under  the   Co-operative 
                Societies Act,  1912 (2 of 1912),  or any other law for 
                the time  being in  force in  any State relating to co- 
                operative societies; 
  
           (11) "corporation"  means any  body corporate established by 
                or under  any Central, Provincial or State Act but does 
                not include a company or a co-operative society; 
  
           (12) "direct tax" means-- 
  
                     (a) any tax chargeable under-- 
  
                               (i) the Income-tax Act; 
 4
  
                               (ii) the  Super Profits  Tax Act,  1963 
                          (14 of 1963); 
  
                               (iii)  the  Companies  (Profits)  Surtax 
                          Act, 1964 (7 of 1964); 
  
                               (iv) the  agricultural  income-tax  law; 
                          and 
  
                     (b) any  other tax  which, having  regard  to  its 
                nature or  incidence, may  be declared  by the  Central 
                Government, by notification in the Official Gazette, to 
                be a direct tax for the purposes of this Act; 
  
           (13) "employee"  means any person (other than an apprentice) 
                employed on a salary or wage not  exceeding    1*[three 
                thousand  and  five   hundred  rupees]  per  mensem  in 
                any industry to  do any skilled  or  unskilled  manual, 
                supervisory, managerial,  administrative, technical  or 
                clerical work  for hire  or reward whether the terms of 
                employment be express or implied; 
  
           (14) "employer" includes-- 
  
                     (i) in  relation to  an establishment  which is  a 
                factory,  the   owner  or   occupier  of  the  factory, 
                including the  agent of  such owner  or  occupier,  the 
                legal representative of a deceased 
 --------------------------------------------------------------------- 
 1.   Subs. by Act 34 of 1995, s. 2 (w.e.f. 1-4-1993). 
  
 429 
  
                owner or  occupier and where a person has been named as 
                a manager  of the  factory under  clause  (f)  of  sub- 
                section (I)  of section  7 of  the Factories Act,  1948 
                (63 of 1948), the person so named; and 
  
                     (ii) in  relation to  any other establishment, the 
                person who,  or the  authority which,  has the ultimate 
                control over the affairs of the establishment and where 
                the said  affairs are  entrusted to a manager, managing 
                director or  managing  agent,  such  manager,  managing 
                director or managing agent; 
  
           (15)   "establishment   in   private   sector"   means   any 
                establishment other  than an  establishment  in  public 
                sector; 
  
           (16) "establishment in public sector" means an establishment 
                owned, controlled or managed by-- 
  
                     (a) a Government company as defined in section 617 
                of the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956); 
  
                     (b) a corporation in which not less than forty per 
                cent. of  its capital  is held (whether singly or taken 
                together) by-- 
  
                          (i) the Government; or 
  
                          (ii) the Reserve Bank of India; or 
  
                          (iii) a  corporation owned  by the Government 
                     or the Reserve Bank of India; 
  
           (17) "factory"  shall have the same meaning as in clause (m) 
                of section 2 of the Factories Act, 1948 (63 of 1948); 
  
           (18) "gross  profits" means  the  gross  profits  calculated 
                under section 4; 
  
 5
           (19) "Income-tax Act" means the Income-tax Act, 1961  (43 of 
                1961); 
  
           (20) "prescribed"  means prescribed by rules made under this 
                 Act; 
  
           (21) "salary  or wage"  means all  remuneration (other  than 
                remuneration in  respect of  overtime work)  capable of 
                being expressed  in terms of money, which would, if the 
                terms  of   employment,  express   or   implied,   were 
                fulfilled, be  payable to an employee in respect of his 
                employment or  of work  done  in  such  employment  and 
                includes dearness  allowance (that  is to say, all cash 
                payments, by  whatever name called, paid to an employee 
                on account  of a  rise in the cost of living), but does 
                not include-- 
  
                     (i) any  other allowance which the employee is for 
                the time being entitled to; 
  
 430 
  
                     (ii) the  value of  any house  accommodation or of 
                supply of  light, water,  medical attendance  or  other 
                amenity or of any service or of any concessional supply 
                of foodgrains or other articles; 
  
                     (iii) any travelling concession; 
  
                     (iv) any  bonus (including  incentive,  production 
                and attendance bonus); 
  
                     (v)  any  contribution  paid  or  payable  by  the 
                employer to  any pension  fund or provident fund or for 
                the benefit  of the employee under any law for the time 
                being in force; 
  
                     (vi) any retrenchment compensation or any gratuity 
                or other  retirement benefit payable to the employee or 
                any ex gratia payment made to him; 
  
                     (vii) any commission payable to the employee. 
  
           Explanation.--Where an  employee is  given in  lieu  of  the 
                whole or  part of  the salary  or wage  payable to him, 
                free food  allowance or free food by his employer, such 
                food allowance or the value of such food shall, for the 
                purpose of  this clause,  be deemed to form part of the 
                salary or wage of such employee; 
  
           (22) words  and expressions used but not defined in this Act 
                and defined  in the  Industrial Disputes Act, 1947  (14 
                of 1947), shall have the meanings respectively assigned 
                to them in that Act. 
  
   
 3. 
   
 Establishments to include departments, undertakings and branches. 
   
  
      3.  Establishments   to  include  departments,  undertakings  and 
 branches.- Where an establishment consists of different departments or 
 undertakings or has branches, whether situated in the same place or in 
 diffcrent places,  all such  departments or  undertakings or  branches 
 shall be treated as parts of the same establishment for the purpose of 
 computation of bonus under this Act: 
  
      Provided that  where for  any accounting year a separate balance- 
 sheet and  profit and  loss account  are prepared  and  maintained  in 
 respect of  any such  department or  undertaking or branch, then, such 
 department or  undertaking or  branch shall  be treated  as a separate 
 establishment for  the purpose  of computation of bonus under this Act 
 6
 for that  year, unless  such department  or undertaking or branch was, 
 immediately before the commencement of that accounting year treated as 
 part of the establishment for the purpose of computation of bonus. 
  
   
 4. 
   
 Computation of gross profits. 
   
  
      1*[4. Computation of gross profits.- The gross profits derived by 
 an employer  from an  establishment in  respect of any accounting year 
 shall-- 
  
           (a) in  the case  of a banking company, be calculated in the 
                manner specified in the First Schedule; 
 --------------------------------------------------------------------- 
 1.   Subs. by Act 66 of 1980, s. 3, for s. 4 (w.e.f. 21-8-1980). 
  
 431 
  
           (b) in any other case, be calculated in the manner specified 
                in the Second Schedule.] 
  
   
 5. 
   
 Computation of available surplus. 
   
  
      5. Computation  of available  surplus.- The available surplus  in 
 respect of  any accounting  year shall  be the  gross profits for that 
 year after deducting therefrom the sums referred to in section 6: 
  
      1*[Provided  that   the  available  surplus  in  respect  of  the 
 accounting year  commencing on any day in the year 1968 and in respect 
 of every subsequent accounting year shall be the aggregate of-- 
  
           (a)  the  gross  profits  for  that  accounting  year  after 
                deducting therefrom  the sums referred to in section 6; 
                and 
  
           (b) an amount equal to the difference between-- 
  
                     (i) the  direct tax, calculated in accordance with 
                the provisions  of section  7, in  respect of an amount 
                equal to  the gross  profits of  the employer  for  the 
                immediately preceding accounting year; and 
  
                     (ii) the direct tax, calculated in accordance with 
                the provisions  of section  7, in  respect of an amount 
                equal to  the gross  profits of  the employer  for such 
                preceding accounting year after deducting therefrom the 
                amount of  bonus which  the employer  has  paid  or  is 
                liable to  pay to  his employees in accordance with the 
                provisions of this Act for that year.] 
  
   
 6. 
   
 Sums deductible from gross profits. 
   
  
      6. Sums  deductible from gross profits.- The following sums shall 
 be deducted from the gross profits as prior charges, namely:-- 
  
           (a)  any   amount  by  way  of  depreciation  admissible  in 
                accordance with  the provisions  of sub-section  (1) of 
                section 32 of the Income-tax Act, or in accordance with 
                the provisions  of the  agricultural income-tax law, as 
                the case may be: 
  
           Provided that where an employer has been paying bonus to his 
 7
                employees under  a settlement  or an award or agreement 
                made before  the 29th May, 1965, and subsisting on that 
                date after  deducting from  the gross  profits notional 
                normal depreciation,  then, the  amount of depreciation 
                to be  deducted under  this clause shall, at the option 
                of such  employer (such option to be exercised once and 
                within one  year from  that date)  continue to  be such 
                notional normal depreciation; 
 --------------------------------------------------------------------- 
 1.   Added by Act 8 of 1969, s. 2. 
  
 432 
  
           (b) any amount by way of 1*[development rebate or investment 
                allowance or  development allowance] which the employer 
                is entitled to deduct from his income under the Income- 
                tax Act; 
  
           (c) subject  to the  provisions of section 7, any direct tax 
                which the  employer is liable to pay for the accounting 
                year in respect of his income, profits and gains during 
                that year; 
  
           (d) such  further sums  as are  specified in  respect of the 
                employer in the 2*[Third Schedule]. 
  
   
 7. 
   
 Calculation of direct tax payable by the employer. 
   
  
      7. Calculation  of direct  tax payable by the  employer.-  3*[Any 
 direct tax  payable by  the employer]  for any  accounting year shall, 
 subject to  the following  provisions,  be  calculated  at  the  rates 
 applicable to the income of the employer for that year, namely:-- 
  
           (a) in calculating such tax no account shall be taken of-- 
  
                     (i) any  loss incurred  by the employer in respect 
                of any  previous accounting  year and  carried  forward 
                under any  law for  the time being in force relating to 
                direct taxes; 
  
                     (ii)  any   arrears  of   depreciation  which  the 
                employer is  entitled to  add  to  the  amount  of  the 
                allowance for depreciation for any following accounting 
                year or  years under  sub-section (2)  of section 32 of 
                the Income-tax Act; 
  
                     (iii) any  exemption  conferred  on  the  employer 
                under section  84 of  the  Income-tax  Act  or  of  any 
                deduction to which he is entitled under sub-section (1) 
                of section  101 of  that Act,  as in  force immediately 
                before the  commencement of  the Finance Act, 1965  (10 
                of 1965); 
  
           (b) where  the employer  is  a  religious  or  a  charitable 
                institution to  which the  provisions of  section 32 do 
                not apply  and the  whole or  any part of its income is 
                exempt from  tax under  the Income-tax  Act, then, with 
                respect to  the income  so exempted,  such  institution 
                shall be  treated as  if it were a company in which the 
                public are  substantially interested within the meaning 
                of that Act; 
  
           (c) where the employer is an individual or a Hindu undivided 
                family, the  tax payable  by such  employer  under  the 
                Income-tax Act  shall be  calculated on  the basis that 
                the income derived by him from the establishment is his 
                only income; 
  
           (d) where  the income  of any  employer includes any profits 
 8
                and gains  derived from  the export  of  any  goods  or 
                merchandise out  of India and any rebate on such income 
                is allowed under any law 
 --------------------------------------------------------------------- 
 1.   Subs. by  Act 66  of 1980,  s.  4,  for  "development  rebate  or 
      development allowance" (w.e.f. 21-8-1980). 
 2.   Subs. by s. 4, ibid., for "Second Schedule" (w.e.f. 21-8-1980). 
 3.   Subs. by  Act 8 of 1969, s. 3, for "For the purpose of clause (c) 
      of section 6, any direct tax payable by the employer". 
  
 433 
  
                for the  time being  in force relating to direct taxes, 
                then, no account shall be taken of such rebate; 
  
           (e) no  account shall  be taken of any rebate 1*[(other than 
                development   rebate   or   investment   allowance   or 
                development  allowance)]   or  credit   or  relief   or 
                deduction  (not   here  in  before  mentioned  in  this 
                section) in the payment of any direct tax allowed under 
                any law  for the time being in force relating to direct 
                taxes or under the relevant annual Finance Act, for the 
                development of any industry. 
  
   
 8. 
   
 Eligibility for bonus. 
   
  
      8. Eligibility for bonus.- Every employee shall be entitled to be 
 paid by  his employer in an accounting year, bonus, in accordance with 
 the  provisions   of  this   Act,  provided   he  has  worked  in  the 
 establishment for not less than thirty working days in that year. 
  
   
 9. 
   
 Disqualification for bonus. 
   
  
      9. Disqualification for bonus.- Notwithstanding anything 
contained 
 in this  Act, an  employee shall  be disqualified from receiving bonus 
 under this Act, if he is dismissed from service for-- 
  
           (a) fraud; or 
  
           (b) riotous  or violent  behaviour while  on the premises of 
                the establishment; or 
  
           (c) theft,  misappropriation or  sabotage of any property of 
                the establishment. 
  
   
 10. 
   
 Payment of minimum bonus. 
   
  
      2*[10. Payment of minimum bonus.- Subject to the other provisions 
 of this Act, every employer shall be bound to pay to every employee in 
 respect of  the accounting year commencing on any day in the year 1979 
 and in  respect of  every subsequent  accounting year, a minimum bonus 
 which shall  be 8.33  per cent.  of the  salary or  wage earned by the 
 employee during  the accounting  year or one hundred rupees, whichever 
 is higher,  whether or  not the  employer has any allocable surplus in 
 the accounting year: 
  
      Provided that  where an  employee has not completed fifteen years 
 of age at the beginning of the accounting year, the provisions of this 
 section shall  have effect  in relation to such employee as if for the 
 words "one hundred rupees", the words "sixty rupees" were substituted. 
 9
  
   
 11. 
   
 Payment of maximum bonus. 
   
  
      11. Payment  of maximum  bonus.- (1)  Where  in  respect  of  any 
 accounting year  referred to  in section  10,  the  allocable  surplus 
 exceeds the  amount of  minimum bonus  payable to  the employees under 
 that section,  the employer  shall, in  lieu of such minimum bonus, be 
 bound    to    pay    to    every    employee    in    respect      of 
 --------------------------------------------------------------------- 
 1.   Subs. by  Act 66  of 1980,  s. 5,  for "(other  than  development 
      rebate or development allowance)" (w.e.f. 21-8-1980). 
 2.   Subs. by s. 6, ibid., for s. 10 (w.e.f. 21-8-1980). 
  
 434 
  
 that accounting  year bonus  which shall be an amount in proportion to 
 the salary  or wage  earned by the employee during the accounting year 
 subject to a maximum of twenty per cent. of such salary or wage. 
  
      (2) In  computing the  allocable surplus  under this section, the 
 amount set on or the amount set off under the provisions of section 15 
 shall be  taken into account in accordance with the provisions of that 
 section.] 
  
      4*             *               *             *                  * 
  
   
 12. 
   
 Calculation of bonus with respect to certain employees. 
   
  
      2*[12.  Calculation  of bonus with respect to certain employees.- 
 Where  the  salary  or wage of an employee exceeds 3*[two thousand and 
 five hundred rupees] per mensem, the bonus payable  to  such  employee 
 under  section  10  or, as the case may be, under section 11, shall be 
 calculated as if his salary or wage  were  3*[two  thousand  and  five 
 hundred rupees] per mensem.] 
  
   
 13. 
   
 Proportionate reduction in bonus in certain cases. 
   
  
      4*[13. Proportionate  reduction in bonus in certain cases.- Where 
 an employee  has not  worked for all the working days in an accounting 
 year, the  minimum bonus of one hundred rupees or, as the case may be, 
 of sixty  rupees, if  such bonus  is higher than 8.33 per cent. of his 
 salary or  wage for  the days  he has  worked in that accounting year, 
 shall be proportionately reduced.] 
  
   
 14. 
   
 Computation of number of working days. 
   
  
      14. Computation  of number  of working days.- For the purposes of 
 section 13,  an  employee  shall  be  deemed  to  have  worked  in  an 
 establishment in any accounting year also on the days on which-- 
  
           (a) he  has been laid off under an agreement or as permitted 
                by standing  orders  under  the  Industrial  Employment 
                (Standing Orders) Act, 1946 (20 of 1946),  or under the 
                Industrial Disputes  Act, 1947  (14 of  1947)  or under 
                any other law applicable to the establishment; 
  
           (b) he has been on leave with salary or wage; 
 10
  
           (c) he  has been  absent due to temporary disablement caused 
                by accident  arising out  of and  in the  course of his 
                employment; and 
  
           (d) the  employee has been on maternity leave with salary or 
                wage, 
  
 during the accounting year. 
  
   
 15. 
   
 Set on and set off of allocable surplus. 
   
  
     5*[15. Set on and set off of allocable surplus.- (1) Where for any 
 accounting year,  the allocable  surplus exceeds the amount of maximum 
 bonus payable  to the employees in the establishment under section 11, 
 then, the  excess shall, subject to a limit of twenty per cent. of the 
 total salary or wage of the employees employed in the establishment in 
 that accounting  year, be  carried forward  for being  set on  in  the 
 succeeding accounting year and so on up to and inclusive of the fourth 
 accounting year  to be utilised for the purpose of payment of bonus in 
 the manner illustrated in the Fourth Schedule. 
 --------------------------------------------------------------------- 
 1.  omitted by act 30 of 1985, s.2. 
 2.  Ins.   by  act  67  of  1985, (w.e.f.  7-11-1985). 
 3.   Subs. by Act 34 of 1995, s.  3, for "one hundred and six hundred 
      rupees" (w.e.f.  1-4-1993). 
 4.   Subs. by s. 8, ibid., for s. 13 (w.e.f. 21-8-1980). 
 5.   Subs. by s. 9, ibid., for s. 15 (w.e.f. 21-8-1980). 
  
 435 
  
      (2) Where  for any accounting year, there is no available surplus 
 or the  allocable surplus  in respect  of that year falls short of the 
 amount of  minimum bonus payable to the employees in the establishment 
 under section  10, and there is no amount or sufficient amount carried 
 forward and  set on  under sub-section (1) which could be utilised for 
 the purpose of payment of the minimum bonus, then, such minimum amount 
 or the  deficiency, as  the case  may be, shall be carried forward for 
 being set  off in  the succeeding  accounting year and so on up to and 
 inclusive of  the fourth  accounting year in the manner illustrated in 
 the Fourth Schedule. 
  
      (3) The  principle of  set on  and set  off as illustrated in the 
 Fourth Schedule  shall apply  to all  other cases  not covered by sub- 
 section (1)  or sub-section  (2) for  the purpose  of payment of bonus 
 under this Act. 
  
      (4) Where  in any  accounting year  any amount  has been  carried 
 forward and set on or set off under this section, then, in calculating 
 bonus for  the succeeding accounting year, the amount of set on or set 
 off carried  forward from  the earliest accounting year shall first be 
 taken into account.] 
  
   
 16. 
   
 Special provisions with respect to certain establishments. 
   
  
      16. Special  provisions with  respect to certain establishments.- 
 1*[(1) Where an establishment is newly set up, whether before or after 
 the commencement  of this  Act, the  employees of  such  establishment 
 shall be  entitled to  be paid bonus under this Act in accordance with 
 the provisions of sub-sections (1A), (1B) and (1C). 
  
      (1A) In  the first five accounting years following the accounting 
 year in which the employer sells the goods produced or manufactured by 
 him or  renders services, as the case may be, from such establishment, 
 bonus shall be payable only in respect of the accounting year in which 
 11
 the employer  derives profit  from such  establishment and  such bonus 
 shall be  calculated in  accordance with the provisions of this Act in 
 relation to  that year, but without applying the provisions of section 
 15. 
  
      (1B) For  the sixth  and seventh  accounting years  following the 
 accounting year  in which  the employer  sells the  goods produced  or 
 manufactured by him or renders services, as the case may be, from such 
 establishment, the provisions of section 15 shall apply subject to the 
 following modifications, namely:-- 
  
           (i) for the sixth accounting year-- 
  
                                                 set on or set off, as 
                                                 the case may be, shall 
                                                 be made in the manner 
                                                 illustrated in the 
                                                 2*[Fourth Schedule] 
                                                 taking into account 
                                                 the excess or defic- 
                                                 ency, if any, as the 
                                                 case may be, of the 
                                                 allocable surplus set 
                                                 on or set off in res- 
                                                 pect of the fifth and 
                                                 sixth accounting 
                                                 years; 
 --------------------------------------------------------------------- 
 1.   Subs. by Act 23 of 1976, s. 12, for sub-section (1) (w.e.f. 25-9- 
      1975). 
 2.   Subs. by  Act 66 of 1980, s. 10, for "Third Schedule" (w.e.f. 21- 
      8-1980). 
  
 436 
  
      (ii) for the seventh accounting year-- 
  
                                                 set on or set off, as 
                                                 the case may be, shall 
                                                  be made in the manner 
                                                  illustraed in the 
                                                  1*[Fourth Schedule] 
                                                  taking into account 
                                                  the excess or defici- 
                                                  ency, if any, as the 
                                                  case may be, of the 
                                                  allocable surplus set 
                                                  on or set off in res- 
                                                  pect of the fifth, 
                                                  sixth and seventh 
                                                  accounting years. 
  
      (1C) From  the eighth  accounting year  following the  accounting 
 year in which the employer sells the goods produced or manufactured by 
 him or  renders services, as the case may be, from such establishment, 
 the  provisions  of  section  15  shall  apply  in  relation  to  such 
 establishment as they apply in relation to any other establishment. 
  
      Explanation  I.--For   the  purpose   of  sub-section   (1),   an 
 establishment shall  not be deemed to be newly set up merely by reason 
 of a change in its location, management, name or ownership. 
  
      Explanation II.--For the purpose of sub-section (1A), an employer 
 shall not  be deemed  to have  derived profit  in any  accounting year 
 unless-- 
  
           (a) he  has made  provision for  that year's depreciation to 
                which he  is entitled  under the  Income-tax Act or, as 
                the case may be, under the agricultural income-tax law; 
                and 
  
           (b) the  arrears of such depreciation and losses incurred by 
                him in  respect of  the establishment  for the previous 
 12
                accounting years  have been  fully set  off against his 
                profits. 
  
      Explanation III.--For  the purposes of sub-section (1A), (1B) and 
 (1C), sale  of the goods produced or manufactured during the course of 
 the trial  running of  any factory  or of the prospecting stage of any 
 mine or  an oil-field  shall not be taken into consideration and where 
 any question arises with regard to such production or manufacture, the 
 decision of  the appropriate Government, made after giving the parties 
 a reasonable  opportunity of representing the case, shall be final and 
 shall not be called in question by any court or other authority.] 
  
      (2) The  provisions of  2*[sub-section (1),  (1A), (1B) and (1C)] 
 shall, so  far as  may be, apply to new departments or undertakings or 
 branches set up by existing establishments: 
  
      Provided  that   if  an  employer  in  relation  to  an  existing 
 establishment consisting  of different  departments or undertakings or 
 branches (whether  or not  in the  same industry)  set up at different 
 periods has,  before the  29th May,  1965, been  paying bonus  to  the 
 employees of all such departments 
 --------------------------------------------------------------------- 
 1.   Subs. by  Act 66 of 1980, s. 10, for "Third Schedule" (w.e.f. 21- 
      8-1980). 
 2.   Subs. by Act 23 of 1976, s. 12, for "sub-section (1)" (w.e.f. 25- 
      9-1975). 
  
 437 
  
 or undertakings  or branches  irrespective of  the date  on which such 
 departments or  undertakings or  branches were set up, on the basis of 
 the consolidated  profits computed  in respect of all such departments 
 or undertakings  or branches,  then, such  employer shall be liable to 
 pay bonus  in accordance  with the  provisions  of  this  Act  to  the 
 employees of all such departments or undertakings or branches (whether 
 set up  before or  after that  date) on  the basis of the consolidated 
 profits computed as aforesaid. 
  
   
 17. 
   
 Adjustment of  customary or  interim bonus against bonus payable 
underthe Act. 
   
  
      17. Adjustment  of  customary  or  interim  bonus  against  bonus 
 payable under the Act.- Where in any accounting year-- 
  
           (a) an  employer has  paid any puja bonus or other customary 
                bonus to an employee; or 
  
           (b) an  employer has  paid a part of the bonus payable under 
                this Act  to an  employee before the date on which such 
                bonus becomes payable, 
  
 then, the  employer shall be entitled to deduct the amount of bonus so 
 paid from  the amount  of bonus  payable by  him to the employee under 
 this Act  in respect of that accounting year and the employee shall be 
 entitled to receive only the balance. 
  
   
 18. 
   
 Deduction of certain amounts from bonus payable under the Act. 
   
  
      18. Deduction  of certain  amounts from  bonus payable  under the 
 Act.- Where  in any accounting year,  an employee  is found  guilty of 
 misconduct causing  financial loss  to the employer, then, it shall be 
 lawful for  the employer  to deduct the amount of loss from the amount 
 of bonus  payable by  him to the employee under this Act in respect of 
 that accounting  year only  and the  employee  shall  be  entitled  to 
 receive the balance, if any. 
 13
  
   
 19. 
   
 Time-limit for payment of bonus. 
   
  
      19. Time-limit for payment  of bonus.- 1*[All amounts] payable to 
 an employee  by way  of bonus  under this Act shall be paid in cash by 
 his employer-- 
  
           (a) where  there is  a dispute  regarding payment  of  bonus 
                pending before any authority under section 22, within a 
                month  from   the  date  on  which  the  award  becomes 
                enforceable or  the settlement comes into operation, in 
                respect of such dispute; 
  
           (b) in  any other case, within a period of eight months from 
                the close of the accounting year: 
  
      Provided that the appropriate Government or such authority as the 
 appropriate Government  may  specify  in  this  behalf  may,  upon  an 
 application made  to it by the employer and for sufficient reasons, by 
 order, extend  the said  period of eight months to such further period 
 or periods  as it  thinks fit;  so, however,  that the total period so 
 extended shall not in any case exceed two years. 
  
      2*             *                *                *             * 
  
      3*             *                *                *             * 
 --------------------------------------------------------------------- 
 1.   Subs. by  Act 23  of  1976,  s.  13,  for  "(1)  Subject  to  the 
      provisions of this section, all amounts" (w.e.f. 25-9-1975). 
 2.   Sub-sections (2)  to (7) ins. by Act 68 of 1972, s. 4, omitted by 
      Act 23 of 1976, s. 13 (w.e.f. 25-9-1975). 
 3.   Sub-section (8)  ins. by  Act 39 of 1973, s. 4, omitted by Act 55 
      of 1973, s. 2 (w.e.f. 1-9-1973). 
  
 438 
  
   
 20. 
   
 Application of  Act to  establishments in  public  sector  in  
certaincases. 
   
  
      20. Application  of Act  to establishments  in public  sector  in 
 certain cases.- 1*[(1)] If  in any accounting year an establishment in 
 public sector  sells any  goods produced  or  manufactured  by  it  or 
 renders any  services, in competition with an establishment in private 
 sector, and  the income from such sale or services or both is not less 
 than twenty  per cent.  of the  gross income  of the  establishment in 
 public sector  for that  year, then,  the provisions of this Act shall 
 apply in relation to such establishment in public sector as they apply 
 in relation to a like establishment in private sector. 
  
      2*[(2) Save  as otherwise provided in sub-section (1), nothing in 
 this Act shall apply to the employees employed by any establishment in 
 public sector.] 
  
   
 21. 
   
 Recovery of bonus due from an employer. 
   
  
      21. Recovery of bonus  due from  an employer.- Where any money is 
 due to  an employee  by  way  of  bonus  from  his  employer  under  a 
 settlement or an award or agreement, the employee himself or any other 
 person authorised  by him in writing in this behalf, or in the case of 
 the death  of  the  employee,  his  assignee  or  heirs  may,  without 
 prejudice to  any other  mode of  recovery, make an application to the 
 14
 appropriate Government  for the  recovery of the money due to him, and 
 if the  appropriate Government  or such  authority as  the appropriate 
 Government may  specify in  this behalf is satisfied that any money is 
 so due,  it shall issue a certificate for that amount to the Collector 
 who shall  proceed to recover the same in the same manner as an arrear 
 of land revenue: 
  
      Provided that  every such  application shall  be made  within one 
 year from  the date on which the money became due to the employee from 
 the employer: 
  
      Provided further  that any  such application  may be  entertained 
 after the  expiry of  the said  period of one year, if the appropriate 
 Government is  satisfied that  the applicant  had sufficient cause for 
 not making the application within the said period. 
  
      Explanation.--In this  section and  in 3*[sections 22, 23, 24 and 
 25], "employee"  includes a  person who  is entitled to the payment of 
 bonus under this Act but who is no longer in employment. 
  
   
 22. 
   
 Reference of disputes under the Act. 
   
  
      22. Reference of disputes under the Act.- Where any dispute 
arises 
 between an  employer and  his employees  with  respect  to  the  bonus 
 payable under  this Act or with respect to the application of this Act 
 to an  estab

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