Andhra Pradesh 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 XV, XVII and XIX of the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (Andhra Pradesh) Rules, 2026 cover what happens after an alleged offence: the enquiry and penalty, the employer's appeal and the deposit it needs, compounding in Forms XII(C) and XII(D), the State's Social Security Fund, and a set of miscellaneous rules. The rules end with Forms I to XXXI.
If you have received a complaint, a summons or a compounding notice, a legal consultation at an early stage can set the response timetable.
The rules are the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (Andhra Pradesh) Rules, 2026, as notified by G.O.Rt.No.146 dated 6 August 2026. An employer appeals against an enquiry officer's order within sixty days, with a fee "@ 25% of the penalty imposed" (rule 140). A compounding notice in Form-XII(D) is answered within fifteen days and the certificate issues within ten days (rule 141). Casual leave is fifteen days a calendar year (rule 174).
Notification and commencement
The rules are the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (Andhra Pradesh) Rules, 2026, as notified by G.O.Rt.No.146 dated 6 August 2026. Later amendments and State notifications under these rules should be checked in the State Gazette. Rule 1(3) says they come into force on the date of their final publication in the Official Gazette; the four Labour Codes were brought into force from 21 November 2025. Registration and the fee table are in our first OSH article, and factory plans and licences in our factory article.
Enquiry into offences (rule 139)
The Central rule is rule 177. The Andhra Pradesh text: the Government appoints a gazetted officer by notification to hold an enquiry and impose penalty. On a complaint by an Inspector-cum-Facilitator, the officer, if satisfied on the evidence that an offence has been committed, issues summons fixing a date. If the accused pleads guilty, penalty is imposed in accordance with the Code; if not, the officer summons persons acquainted with the facts, records evidence on oath (documentary and oral) with cross-examination, and decides after hearing the parties. The order records the particulars of the complaint, the parties, the offence with reference to the Code's provisions, the pleadings, a summary of evidence, findings and reasons and the penalty imposed. If the accused or representative fails to appear without sufficient cause on two consecutive dates, the officer may decide ex parte; if the Inspector-cum-Facilitator fails to appear, the complaint may be dismissed. Not more than three adjournments are allowed and hearing by video conferencing may be permitted. The officer may refuse a complaint filed beyond six months from the date of the offence, for reasons recorded in writing.
Appeal (rule 140)
The employer aggrieved by the enquiry officer's order appeals to the Appellate Authority appointed by the State Government, within sixty days from receipt, electronically or otherwise, "along with a fee @ 25% of the penalty imposed, to be deposited in the official account of the Appellate Authority". The Appellate Authority is of the next higher cadre. On admission it sends notice to the enquiry officer, who sends the records online. An appeal may be dismissed for default of appearance and restored on application within thirty days if the appellant shows sufficient cause, subject to costs. The appeal is disposed of within thirty days from receipt.
Compounding (rule 141)
The Central rule is rule 182. The manner of compounding and the compounding officers are notified by the Government. On an application in Form-XII(C) by an accused person, before or after the enquiry or institution of prosecution, the notified officer issues a compounding notice electronically in Form-XII(D). The person noticed applies in Part-III of Form-XII D and deposits "the entire compounding amount by electronic transfer or otherwise, within fifteen days of the receipt of the notice". The Compounding Officer issues a composition certificate in Part-IV within ten days of receipt. If the amount is not deposited in time, prosecution is instituted "after one month from the last date of specified time". Where prosecution is already pending, the officer sends a copy of the order to the court. No prosecution is instituted without giving the employer an opportunity to comply with the provisions, subject to the proviso to section 110(1) and compounding under section 114. The text of the rules prints no compounding amount; the Code's penalty provisions govern the amount.
The Social Security Fund (rule 143)
The Central rule is rule 183. The State Government establishes under section 115(1) a social security fund for the welfare of unorganised workers. It is credited with amounts wholly or partly funded by the Central Government, partly funded by contributions as the Central scheme specifies, funds from any source including corporate social responsibility under the Companies Act, 2013, grants or loans from the Central Government, State budget funding, the amount received from composition of offences under section 114(4) in Form-XII C, penalty under section 115(6), and other notified sources. Welfare schemes are formulated for registered unorganised workers by the Unorganised Social Security Board with the State's prior approval. This is the only point where compounding connects to the Fund; an employer's compounding amount goes into it.
Miscellaneous rules (rules 166 to 175)
| Rule | Subject | As printed |
|---|---|---|
| 166 | Common licence for factory, industrial premises and construction establishments engaging contract workers | Single licence in Form XVI issued within 45 days |
| 167 | Appeal against rejection | To the Commissioner of Labour, with a fee of Rs. 1000/- |
| 168 | Safety and health surveys | By the Chief Inspector-cum-Facilitator on advance written notice; time spent by workers counts as time worked for wages and overtime |
| 169 | Contract labour grievance redressal | Principal employer's committee disposes within thirty days; otherwise forwarded to the Inspector-cum-Facilitator, who resolves within sixty days |
| 170 | Annual increment for a contractor's regular worker | Not less than two percent of wages |
| 171 | Income sources and hazardous substance quantity | As specified by State order |
| 172 and 173 | Inquiry into accidents and diseases | Assessors or competent persons; inquiry completed within three months of the order |
| 174 | Casual leave | Fifteen days in a calendar year, not more than five at a time, not combined with other leave, no carry forward |
| 175 | Repeal and savings | Six sets of State rules repealed; existing registrations and licences deemed granted if details are provided to the registering officer within 6 months |
The six repealed sets are the Andhra Pradesh Factories Rules, 1950; the Building and Other Construction Workers Rules, 1999; the Inter-State Migrant Workmen Rules, 1982; the Contract Labour Rules, 1971; the Motor Transport Workers Rules, 1963 and the Beedi and Cigar Workers Rules, 1968. Rule 175(3) saves anything done and pending proceedings under the repealed rules.
The Forms (Forms I to XXXI)
The Forms, by subject, with the rule that calls for each:
| Subject | Forms |
|---|---|
| Registration | I (rule 3(2)), IA (cancellation, rule 3(13)), II (certificate), IIA (cancellation certificate), III (register of establishments) |
| Notices and health | IV (commencement or cessation, rule 7), V (health examination), VI (accident or dangerous occurrence), VII (periods of work) |
| Registers and returns | VIII, VIII(A), IX, X, XI, XXII (adolescent workers), XII (annual return), XII(A) (contractor's half-yearly return) |
| Inspection and offences | XII B (improvement notice), XII(C) (application for composition), XII(D) (compounding notice, Parts I to IV) |
| Contract labour and licences | XIII (licence application), XIV (undertaking), XV (principal employer certificate), XVI (licence), XVII (transfer on death), XVIII (experience certificate), XIX (audio-visual agreement), XX and XXI (beedi permission and record) |
| Factories | XXIII (plans), XXIV (licence application), XXV (licence), XXVIII (change of manager), XXIX (dust extraction test report), XXX (certificate of stability), XXXI (safety officer's report), XXVII (health register) |
The text of rule 130 refers to Form XVII (fitness certificate) and Form XVIII (health register), and rule 120 to Form XXVII (health register), while Forms XVII and XVIII as appended are headed the licence transfer application and the experience certificate. Check the Form headed for the purpose and the numbering in the Gazette.
A worked example
Ongole Rice Mills, an invented employer, receives a compounding notice in Form-XII(D) after an inspection. Its manager completes Part-III and deposits the amount within fifteen days. The Compounding Officer issues the certificate in Part-IV within ten days. In a separate matter where an enquiry officer imposed a penalty, the company appeals within sixty days with the fee of 25% of that penalty and attends every hearing, since two consecutive absences allow an ex parte decision.
Common lapses
- Missing the fifteen-day window on a Form-XII(D) notice and exposing the company to prosecution after one month.
- Filing an appeal without the 25% fee.
- Not attending two consecutive hearing dates.
- Taking casual leave in blocks over five days or carrying it forward.
- Overlooking that principal employers must run a contract labour grievance committee.
Need help with a notice, a complaint or an appeal?
Time limits in this chapter are short and the deposit is fixed. A short legal consultation on the notice you hold can save the appeal. Our legal consultation team is available for that.
Key takeaways
- Enquiry by a gazetted officer; ex parte after two consecutive absences; three adjournments at most.
- Appeal in sixty days with 25% of the penalty; disposed of in thirty days.
- Compounding: Form XII(C) application, Form XII(D) notice, fifteen days to pay, certificate in ten.
- Casual leave fifteen days; contractor's worker gets not less than two percent increment.
- Forms I to XXXI; check numbering overlaps in the Gazette.
Read next
- OSH (Andhra Pradesh) Rules, 2026: notification, definitions and registration of establishments
- OSH (Andhra Pradesh) Rules, 2026: factories, plans, licence fees and hazardous processes
- Rule 182 of the OSH Central Rules, 2026: manner of compounding of offences
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.