Labour Courts :

As per section 7 of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, the appropriate Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, constitute one or more Labour Courts for the adjudication of industrial disputes and for performing such other functions as may be assigned to them under this Act. Thus, the primary function of Labour Courts is to adjudicate on industrial disputes. So long as industrial disputes continue to exist, labour courts cannot become irrelevant.

The Central Government has set up 22 Central Government Industrial Tribunals-cum-Labour Courts (CGIT-cum-LCs) for resolution of industrial disputes arising in Central Sphere. A system of link officers has been put in place so that judicial work does not suffer in case the post of Presiding Officer of CGIT-cum-LC remains vacant due to administrative exigency. A Scheme of Holding of Lok Adalats as an “Alternative Grievance Redressal Mechanism” was introduced in the Tenth Five Year Plan (2002-07) for speedy disposal of industrial disputes in the CGIT-cum-LCs. The Ministry organizes conference of Presiding Officers from time to time to explore strategies for speedy and effective disposal of industrial disputes.

This information was given by the Minister of Labour and Employment Shri Mallikarjun Kharge in reply in reply to a written question in the Lok Sabha today.

PIB Release, September 5 , 2011