Labour Commissioner Designated as Appellate Authority Under Industrial Relations Code, 2020; Three Separate Notifications Issued
JAMMU, NOVEMBER 13:
The Government of Jammu and Kashmir has taken a significant step towards strengthening the institutional mechanism for resolution of industrial disputes by constituting Industrial Tribunals at Jammu and Srinagar and appointing designated Enquiry Officers and an Appellate Authority under the Industrial Relations Code, 2020.
In this regard, the Labour and Employment Department, Civil Secretariat, Jammu, has issued three separate notifications in exercise of the powers conferred under various provisions of the Industrial Relations Code, 2020.
As per the first notification, the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, in exercise of powers under Sub-section (1) of Section 44 of the Industrial Relations Code, 2020, has constituted Industrial Tribunals with headquarters at Jammu and Srinagar, respectively.
The tribunals will be responsible for adjudication of industrial disputes and performing other functions assigned to them under the provisions of the Code. The move is aimed at establishing a dedicated institutional mechanism for addressing disputes arising between employers and workers and ensuring a structured process for their resolution.
In another notification issued under Sub-section (1) of Section 85 of the Industrial Relations Code, 2020, the Government has appointed Deputy Labour Commissioners of both divisions as Enquiry Officers.
Accordingly, the Deputy Labour Commissioner, Jammu, has been designated as the Enquiry Officer for all industrial establishments falling within Jammu Division, while the Deputy Labour Commissioner, Kashmir, will exercise the same responsibility for industrial establishments across Kashmir Division.
Through the third notification, the Government has appointed the Labour Commissioner, Jammu and Kashmir, as the Appellate Authority under Clause (a) of Section 2 of the Industrial Relations Code, 2020.
The appointment is intended to provide an institutional mechanism for dealing with appeals under the relevant provisions of the Code.
All three notifications have been issued by order of the Lieutenant Governor, Jammu and Kashmir.
The constitution of Industrial Tribunals, along with the appointment of Enquiry Officers and the Appellate Authority, marks an important administrative development in the implementation of the new industrial relations framework in the Union Territory.
The development is expected to strengthen the institutional arrangements for industrial dispute resolution and provide workers, trade unions and employers with designated authorities for addressing matters falling within the ambit of the Industrial Relations Code, 2020.(KNC)