S.1 Short title, extent and duration

       (1) This Act may be called the Essential Services Maintenance Act, 1968.
       (2) It extends to the whole of India:
       Provided that it shall not apply to the State of Jammu and Kashmir except to the extent to which the provisions of this Act relate to Union employees.
       (3) It shall cease to have effect on the expiry of three years from the date of commencement of this Act except as respects things done or omitted to be done before such cesser of operation of this Act, and section 6 of the General Clauses Act, 1897, shall apply upon such cesser of operation of this Act as if it had then been repealed by a Central Act.

S.2 Definitions

       (1) In this Act,--
       (a) "essential service" means--
       (i) Any postal, telegraph or telephone service.
       (ii) any railway service or any other transport service for the carriage of passengers or goods by land, water or air with respect to which Parliament has power to make laws;
       (iii) any service connected with the operation or maintenance of aerodromes, or with the operation, repair or maintenance of aircraft;
       (iv) any service connected with the loading ,unloading, movement or storage of goods in any port;
       (v) any service connected with the clearance of goods or passengers through the customs or with the prevention of smuggling;
    &nb

S.3 Power to prohibit strikes in certain employments

       (1) If the Central Government is satisfied that in the public interest it is necessary or expedient so to do, it may, by general or special Order, prohibit strikes in any essential service specified in the Order.
       (2) An order made under sub-section (1) shall be published in such manner as the Central Government considers best calculated 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 only, 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 person employed in any ess

S.4 Penalty for illegal strikes

Any person who commences a strike which is legal under this Act or goes or remains on, or otherwise takes part in, any such strike shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to two hundred rupees, or with both.

S.5 Penalty for instigation, etc.

Any person who instigates, or incites other persons to take part in or otherwise acts in furtherance of, a strike which is illegal under the Act shall be punishable with imprisonment of a term which may extend to one year, or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both.

S.6 Penalty for giving financial aid to illegal strikes

Any person who knowingly expends or supplies any money in furtherance or support of a strike which is illegal under this Act shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year, or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both.

S.7 Power to arrest without warrant

Notwithstanding anything contained in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898, any police officer may arrest without warrant any person who is reasonably suspected of having committed any offence under this Act.

S.8 Act to override other laws

The provisions of this Act and of any Order issued thereunder shall have effect notwithstanding inconsistent therewith contained in the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, or in any others law for the time being in force.

S.9 Repeal and saving

       (1) The Essential Services Maintenance Ordinance, 1968, is hereby repealed.
       (2) Notwithstanding such repeal, anything done or any action taken under the said Ordinance shall be deemed to have been done or taken under this Act, as if this Act had come into force on the 13th day of September, 1968.