21. Certain matters to be kept confidential.—
There shall not be included in any report or award
under this Act any information obtained by a conciliation officer, Board, Court, 8[Labour Court, Tribunal,
National Tribunal or an arbitrator] in the course of any investigation or inquiry as to a trade union or as to
any individual business (whether carried on by a person, firm or company) which is not available
otherwise than through the evidence given before such officer, Board, Court, 6[Labour Court, Tribunal,
National Tribunal or an arbitrator], if the trade union, person, firm or company, in question has made a
request in writing to the conciliation officer, Board, Court, 6[Labour Court, Tribunal, National Tribunal or
an arbitrator], as the case may be, that such information shall be treated as confidential; nor shall such
conciliation officer or any individual member of the Board, 9[or Court or the presiding officer of the
Labour Court, Tribunal or National Tribunal or the arbitrator] or any person present at or concerned in the
proceedings disclose any such information without the consent in writing of the secretary of the trade
union or the person, firm or company in question, as the case may be:
Provided that nothing contained in this section shall apply to a disclosure of any such information for
the purposes of a prosecution under section 193 of the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860).
1. Subs. by Act 36 of 1956, s. 14, for “the Tribunal” (w.e.f. 10-3-1957).
2. The words “subject to the provision for appeal omitted by s. 14, ibid. (w.e.f. 10-3-1957).
3. Ins. by Act 36 of 1964, s. 10 (w.e.f. 19-12-1964).
4. Subs. by Act 36 of 1956, s. 15, for “or Tribunal” (w.e.f. 10-3-1957).
5. Subs. by s. 15, ibid., for “before a Tribunal” (w.e.f. 10-3-1957).
6. Subs. by s. 15, ibid., for “reference of a dispute for adjudication” (w.e.f. 10-3-1957).
7. Subs. by Act 18 of 1952, s. 4, for certain words.
8. Subs. by Act 36 of 1956, s. 16, for “or Tribunal” (w.e.f. 10-3-1957).
9. Subs. by s. 16, ibid., for “Court or Tribunal” (w.e.f. 10-3-1957).
34
CHAPTER V
STRIKES AND LOCK-OUTS