Report No. 58

Rule 81A, Defence of India Rules

7.9. In the development of industrial law in this country, rule 81A of the Defence of India Rules,1has played an important role. Originally, this Rule was passed during the Second World War, with a view to providing speedy remedy for the settlement of industrial disputes by referring them compulsorily to conciliation or adjudication by making awards legally binding on the parties and by prohibiting strikes or lockouts during the pendency of conciliation or adjudication proceedings and for two months thereafter. This Rule also put a blanket ban on disputes which were not genuine industrial disputes.

1. The Defence of India Rules, 1939.