Industrial Relation explained: this guide covers what it means, who it applies to, the step-by-step process, documents required, fees, due dates and penalties in India — so you can stay compliant with confidence and avoid costly mistakes.
Chapters XII and XIII of the Industrial Relation (Bihar) Rules, 2026 (rules 56 to 68) set out how an offence is compounded before or after prosecution, how protected workers are recognised, how an enquiry officer hears a complaint, and a set of miscellaneous duties for employers. The rules end with twenty-five Forms. This article takes the employer-facing rules first and lists every Form with its rule.
The rules are the Industrial Relation (Bihar) Rules, 2026, as notified in the Bihar Gazette (Extraordinary) No. Patna 698 of 1 July 2026. Rule 1(iii) says they come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette. The Deputy Labour Commissioner sends a compounding notice in Form XXIV; the accused deposits the amount and files Part III within fifteen days of receipt (rule 56). A trade union gives the employer its protected-worker names before the 30th April of every year, and the employer recognises them within fifteen days for twelve months (rule 57).
Later amendments and State notifications under these rules should be checked in the State Gazette. The rules print no compounding rupee amount; the compounding amount is stated by the officer in Part I of Form XXIV. A legal dispute resolution team can help if a compounding notice arrives.
Compounding of offences (rule 56)
The Deputy Labour Commissioner of the area is the compounding officer under section 89(1). Where prosecution has not been instituted and the offence is compoundable, he sends a notice, electronically and by registered and speed post, to the accused in Form XXIV, which has three parts.
| Part | What it contains | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Part I | Name and particulars of the offender, details of the offence, the section of the Code and the compounding amount required | 56(1) |
| Part II | The consequences if the offence is not compounded; the printed Form advises deposit within fifteen days from the date of issue | 56(1) |
| Part III | The application the accused files if he wishes to compound | 56(1) |
Each notice carries a continuous unique number with details such as the sending officer, year, place and type of inspection. The accused sends Part III, duly filled, electronically and deposits the amount electronically in the account specified, within fifteen days of receiving the notice (rule 56(2)). If the accused complies, the officer compounds the offence for the amount deposited (rule 56(4)). If compounding is before prosecution, no complaint shall be instituted; if it is pending an enquiry under section 85, the officer tells the enquiring officer, who closes the proceeding against that person; if prosecution has begun, the accused applies to the Court and, with its permission, the officer treats the case as closed and intimates the Court, which discharges the accused (rule 56(3) and (4)). The officer acts under the direction, control and supervision of the State Government (rule 56(5)). Our post on rule 38 of the Central Rules, manner of composition of offence covers the Central rule.
Protected workers (rule 57)
| Step | Rule | As printed |
|---|---|---|
| Union's list | 57(1) | Every registered trade union connected with the establishment communicates to the employer, before the 30th April of every year, the names and addresses of its officers employed there who should be recognised as protected workers |
| Change of officer | 57(2) | Communicated to the employer within fifteen days of the change |
| Recognition | 57(3) | Employer recognises them within fifteen days of receiving the names, subject to section 90(3) and (4), and tells the union in writing; the recognition is for a period of twelve months from the date of that communication |
| Too many names | 57(4) | Employer recognises only the maximum number allowed by section 90(4); with more than one union, the number is distributed in proportion to membership, and each union is told the number allotted |
| Short allotment | 57(4) | The union selects the officers and tells the employer within five days of the employer's written intimation |
| Dispute | 57(5) | Referred to the Registrar or authority notified by the State Government, whose decision is final |
The Central rule is explained in our post on rule 39 of the Central Rules, protected workers.
Complaints, enquiry and other miscellaneous rules (rules 58 to 68)
- Complaint by an aggrieved worker (rule 58). Made electronically, by registered post or speed post in Form XXV, with as many copies as there are opposite parties, and verified by the worker or an authorised representative.
- Authorisation to represent (rules 59 and 60). A worker who is not a union member may authorise a union office-bearer or another worker of the industry; an employer who is not a member of an association may authorise an association officer; both in Form XIII.
- Enquiry into offences (rule 61). The Deputy Labour Commissioner is the enquiry officer for the offences listed in the rule. Notice goes electronically or by registered or speed post and is uploaded on the designated portal. The officer may proceed ex parte if the respondent does not appear, may dismiss the complaint if the complainant stays absent on two consecutive dates without intimation, permits not more than three adjournments on a joint application, and may allow video conferencing. The officer may refuse a complaint filed beyond six months from the date of the offence (rule 61(12)). The officer is guided by the Orders of the First Schedule of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, and passes an order on the same day or a later fixed date.
- Witness expenses (rule 62). A witness before a Tribunal or arbitrator is entitled to an allowance at the scale for witnesses in the civil court in the State.
- Copies to the Labour Bureau (rule 63). A copy each of Forms XX, XXI, XXII, XXIII and XXIV is shared electronically with the Director General, Labour Bureau in auto-mode.
- Letter-head (rule 64). The State Government, the Tribunal, every employer for whom the State Government is the appropriate Government, every union or negotiating union and every authority must make known their email id or website or portal on the letter-head, for service of messages and documents under the rules.
- Records (rule 65). Records, registers, forms, notices and display boards required under the Code may be maintained electronically in the required format, and shown when required by the authority or Inspector-cum-Facilitator, subject to the retention requirement.
- Commissioner (rules 66 to 68). The Tribunal may appoint a Commissioner under section 59(3), fixes the fees after consulting the parties, requires deposit in the nearest treasury, and fixes a date for the report, with extension possible on application.
Because service under the rules is electronic, an employer's letter-head should carry an email id or portal. An employment and labour law advisory review of letter-heads, notices and portals is a simple first check.
The twenty-five Forms
| Form | Subject as printed | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| I | Memorandum of settlement | 3 |
| II | Auditor's declaration | 9(2) |
| III | Affidavit | 10 |
| IV | Statement of assets and liabilities | 11 |
| V | Application for registration of trade union | 12 |
| VI | Certificate of registration of trade union | 12 |
| VII | Register of trade unions | 13(1) |
| VIII | Application before the Tribunal | 19 |
| IX | Annual return (Parts A and B) | 22 |
| X | Register for certified standing orders | 31 |
| XI | Notice of change of service conditions | 33 |
| XII | Agreement for voluntary arbitration | 34 |
| XIII | Authorisation to be represented in a proceeding | 36, 59, 60 |
| XIV | Oath of office for Judicial or Administrative Member of the Tribunal | 37(19), 38(20) |
| XV | Application to the Tribunal where the conciliation officer has not settled the matter | 40 |
| XVI | Application under section 59(1) for recovery of dues | 41 |
| XVII | Application by an authorised person, assignee or heir under section 59(1) | 41 |
| XVIII | Application under section 59(2) | 41 |
| XIX | Application by an assignee or heir under section 59(2) | 41 |
| XX | Notice of strike | 42 |
| XXI | Notice of lock-out | 43(1) |
| XXII | Notice of intimation of retrenchment or closure | 44, 46, 63 |
| XXIII | Application for permission of lay-off, continuation of lay-off, retrenchment or closure | 47, 48, 50, 52 |
| XXIV | Notice for compounding of offence (Parts I to III) | 56 |
| XXV | Complaint under section 91 | 58 |
A worked example
Nalanda Paper Board Ltd receives a Form XXIV notice from the Deputy Labour Commissioner for an alleged lapse. It reads Part I for the amount, completes Part III and pays electronically within fifteen days of receiving the notice. Separately, on 20 April the factory's union sends the names of three officers as protected workers. The company recognises them within fifteen days, in writing, for twelve months, and checks that the number does not exceed the maximum under section 90(4).
Need help with a compounding notice in Bihar?
The fifteen-day period starts on receipt, and a missed deposit means the case can go to prosecution. Our legal dispute resolution team can read the notice, check the section and prepare the Part III application and deposit the same week.
Key takeaways
- A compounding notice in Form XXIV has three parts; the accused deposits and files Part III within fifteen days of receipt (rule 56).
- Compounded before prosecution, no complaint follows; after prosecution, the Court must permit and then discharges the accused (rule 56).
- Unions give protected-worker names before 30 April yearly; recognition runs for twelve months (rule 57).
- A complaint is in Form XXV; the enquiry officer may refuse one filed beyond six months from the offence (rules 58 and 61).
- Forms XX to XXIV are shared with the Labour Bureau electronically (rule 63).
Read next
- Industrial Relation (Bihar) Rules, 2026: registration of trade unions, returns, the political fund and the negotiating union
- Industrial Relation (Bihar) Rules, 2026: strike, lock-out, lay-off, retrenchment, closure and the re-skilling fund
- Rule 38 of the Central Rules: manner of composition of offence
Disclaimer: Based on the State or Union territory rules named above, as notified under the Labour Codes and consulted on 4 October 2026. Later amendments, State notifications, fees and forms should be checked in the State Gazette and on the State labour department website. This article is general information, not legal advice; check the official text before acting.