16. Constitution of a separate fund for political purposes.—
(1) A registered Trade
Union may constitute a separate fund, from contributions separately levied for or made to that
fund, from which payments may be made, for the promotion of the civic and political interests
of its members, in furtherance of any of the objects specified in sub -section
(2).
(2) The objects referred to in sub-section
(1) are:—
(a) the payment of any expenses incurred, either directly or indirectly, by a candidate or
prospective candidate for election as a member of any legislative body constituted under 1 [the
Constitution] or of any local authority, before, during, or after the election in connection with his
candidature or election; or
(b) the holding of any meeting or the distribution of any literature or documents in support of
any such candidate or prospective candidate; or
(c) the maintenance of any person who is a member of any legislative body constituted under
1
[the Constitution] or of any local authority; or
(d) the registration of electors or the selection of a candidate for any legislative body constituted
under 1[the Constitution] or for any local authority; or
(e) the holding of political meetings of any kind, or the distribution of political literature or
political documents of any kind.
2
[(2A) In its application to the State of Jammu and Kashmir, references in sub-section
(2) to any
legislative body constituted under the Constitution shall be construed as including references to the
Legislature of that State.]
(3) No member shall be compelled to contribute to the fund constituted under sub -section
(1);
and a member who does not contribute to the said fund shall not be excluded from any benefits of
the Trade Union, or placed in any respect either directly or indirectly under any disability or at
any disadvantage as compared with other members of the Trade Union (except in relation to the
control or management of the said fund) by reason of his not contributing to the said fund; and
contribution to the said fund shall not be made a condition for Admission to the Trade Union.
