Section 10:
Power to prohibit layoff in any industrial establishment or unit engaged in essential defence services.
10. Power to prohibit layoff in any industrial establishment or unit engaged in essential defence
services.—(1) If the Central Government is satisfied that in the—
(a) public interest; or
(b) interest of the sovereignty and integrity of India; or
(c) security of any State; or
(d) public order; or
(e) decency; or
(f) morality,
it is necessary or expedient so to do, it may, by general or special order, prohibit lay-off, on any ground
other than shortage of power or natural calamity, of any workman (other than a badli workman or a casual
workman) whose name is borne on the muster rolls of any industrial establishment or unit engaged in the
essential defence services.
(2) An order made under sub-section (1) shall be published in such manner as the Central Government
may deem fit to bring it to the notice of the persons affected by the order.
(3) An order made under sub-section (1) shall be in force for six months, but the Central Government
may, by a like order, extend it for any period not exceeding six months, if it is satisfied that in the public
interest it is necessary or expedient so to do.
(4) Upon the issue of an order under sub-section (1),—
(a) no employer in relation to an establishment to which such order applies shall lay-off or continue
the lay-off any workman (other than a badli workman or a casual workman) whose name is borne on
the muster rolls of any industrial establishment or unit engaged in the essential defence services, unless
such lay-off is due to shortage of power or natural calamity, and any laying-off or continuation of
laying-off shall, unless such laying-off or continuation of laying-off is due to shortage of power or
natural calamity, be illegal;
(b) a workman whose laying-off is illegal under clause (a) shall be entitled to all the benefits under
any law for the time being in force as if he had not been laid-off.
(5) Any employer of an industrial establishment or unit engaged in the essential defence services, who
lays-off or continues the laying-off of any workman shall, if such laying-off or continuation of laying-off
is illegal under this section, be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year or
with fine which may extend to ten thousand rupees, or with both.