TAMIL NADU SHOPS AND ESTABLISHMENTS ACT, 1947
(1) This Act may be called the Tamil Nadu Shops and Establishments Act, 1947.
(2) It extends to the whole of the1[State] of Madras.
2[(3) (a) It shall come into force in the following areas on such date as the State Government may, by notification, appoint:
(i)the City of Madras,
(ii) all the municipalities constituted under the Madras District Municipalities Act, 1920 (Madras Act V of 1920), and
(iii) all areas within the jurisdiction of panchayats which, under rule 2 of Schedule III to the Madras Village Panchayats Act, 1950 (Madras Act X of 1950), should be deemed to be constituted under that Act, and which immediately before the commencement of that Act, were classified by the State Government as majo
In this Act, unlessthere is anything repugnant in the subject or context--
(1) "child"means a person who has not completed fourteen years;
(2) "closed"means not open for the service of any customer or open to any business connectedwith the establishment;
(3) "commercialestablishment" means an establishment which is not a shop but which carrieson the business of advertising, commission, forwarding or commercial agency, orwhich is a clerical department of a factory or industrial undertaking or whichis an insurance company, joint stock company, bank, brokers office or exchangeand includes such other establishment as the State Government may bynotification1 declare to be a commercial establishment for thepurposes of this Act;
(4) "day"means the period o
References to time of day in this Act are references to Indian Standard Time which is five and a half hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time.
(1) Nothing containedin this Act shall apply to--
(a) persons employedin any establishment in a position of management;
(b) persons whose workinvolves travelling; and persons employed as canvassers and caretakers;
(c) establishmentsunder the Central and 1 [State] Governments, local authorities, theReserve Bank of India, 2 [***] 3 [a railway administrationoperating any railway as defined in clause (20) of article 366 of theConstitution] and cantonment authorities;
(d) establishments inmines and oil-fields;
(e) establishments inbazaars in places where fairs or festivals are held temporarily for a period notexceeding fifteen days at a time;
(f) establishmentswhich
Notwithstanding anything contained in section 4, the1[State] Government may, by notification2apply all or any of the provisions of this Act to any class of persons or establishments mentioned in that section, other than those mentioned in clauses (c) and (f) of sub-section (1), and modify or cancel any such notification.
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1. Substituted for "Provincial "by the Adaptation Order of 1950.
2. See Appendix.
The1[State] Government may, by notification2, exempt either permanently or for any specified period, any establishment or class of establishments, or person or class of persons, from all or any of the provisions of this Act, subject to such conditions as the 1[State] Government deem fit.
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1. Substituted for "Provincial "by the Adaptation Order of 1950.
2. See Appendix.
(1) Save as provided by or under any other enactment for the time being in force, no shop shall on any day be opened earlier or closed later than such hours as may be fixed by the1[State] Government, by a general or special order2in that behalf:
Provided that any customer who was being served or was waiting to be served in any shop at the hour fixed for its closing may be served during the quarter of an hour immediately following such hour.
(2) Before passing an order under sub-section (1), the1[State] Government shall hold an inquiry in the prescribed manner.
(3) The1[State] Government may, for the purposes of this section, fix different hours for different shops or different classes of shops or for different areas or for different times of the year.
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Save as provided by or under any other enactment for the time being in force, no person shall carry on, in or adjacent to a street or public place, the sale of any goods after the hour fixed under section 7 for the closing of shops dealing in the same class of goods in the locality in which such street or public place is situated :
Provided that nothing in this section shall apply to the sale of newspapers.
(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, no person employed in any shop shall be required or allowed to work therein for more than eight hours in any day and forty-eight hours in any week:
Provided that any such person may be allowed to work in such shop for any period in excess of the limit fixed under this sub-section subject to payment of overtime wages, if the period of work including overtime work, does not exceed ten hours in any day and in the aggregate fifty-four hours in any week.
(2) No person employed in any shop shall be required or allowed to work therein for more than four hours in any day unless he has had an interval for rest of at least one hour.
The periods of work of a person employed in a shop shall be so arranged that, along with his intervals for rest, they shall not spread over more than twelve hours in any day.
(1) Every shop shall remain entirely closed on one day of the week which day shall be specified by the shopkeeper in a notice permanently exhibited in a conspicuous place in the shop; and the day so specified shall not be altered by the shopkeeper more often than once in three months.
(2) Every person employed in a shop shall be allowed in each week a holiday of one whole day:
Provided that nothing in this sub-section shall apply to any person whose total period of employment in the week, including any days spent on authorised leave, is less than six days, or entitle a person who has been allowed a whole holiday on the day on which the shop has remained closed in pursuance of sub-section (1), to an additional holiday.
(3) (a) The1[State] Government may, by notification, require in respect of s
The provisions of this Chapter shall apply only to establishments other than shops.
(1) Save as provided by or under any other enactment for the time being in force, no establishment shall on any day be opened earlier or closed later than such hour as may be fixed by the1[State] Government by general or special order2in that Behalf:
Provided that in the case of a restaurant or eating house, any customer who was being served or was waiting to be served therein at the hour fixed for the closing may be served during the quarter of an hour immediately following such hour.
(2) Before passing an order under sub-section (1), the1[State] Government shall make an inquiry in the prescribed manner.
(3)The1[State] Government may, for the purposes of this section, fix different hours for different establishments or different classes of establishments or for different areas or for differen
(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, no person employed in any establishment shall be required or allowed to work for more than eight hours in any day and forty-eight hours in any week:
Provided that any such person may be allowed to work in such establishment for any period in excess of the limit fixed under this sub-section subject to payment of overtime wages, if the period of work, including overtime work, does not exceed ten hours in any day and in the aggregate fifty-four hours in any week.
(2) No person employed in any establishment shall be required or allowed to work in such establishment for more than four hours in any day unless he has had an interval for rest of at least one hour.
The periods of work of a person employed in an establishment shall be so arranged that along with his intervals for rest, they shall not spread over more than twelve hours in any day.
Section 15 of the Tamil Nadu Shops and Establishments Act, 1947, primarily deals with the regulation of working hours, rest intervals, and conditions of employment within shops and commercial establishments. It aims to ensure the welfare of employees by setting standards for their working conditions and preventing exploitation.
While the exact wording of Section 15 is not provided in the sources, it generally pertains to the regulation of working hours, rest intervals, and related conditions of service for employees in shops and establishments under the Act. It mandates that employers must adhere to prescribed working hours and provide adequate rest periods, aligning with the broader objectives of worker protection and welfare.
Section 15 applies to all shops and establishments covered under the Tamil Nadu Shops and Establishments Act, 1947. It governs the working conditions of employees, including the maximum permissible working hours and mandated rest periods, thereby ensuring a minimum standard of welfare. The scope extends to various types of commercial entities, including restaurants, theatres, and other entertainment venues, as specified in the Act.
The sources do not specify explicit penal provisions or punishments directly associated with contraventions of Section 15. However, violations typically attract penalties under the general enforcement provisions of the Act, which may include fines or other administrative sanctions for non-compliance.
This legal commentary synthesizes the available sources to provide a comprehensive understanding of Section 15 of the Tamil Nadu Shops and Establishments Act, 1947.
(1) Every person employed in an establishment shall be allowed in each week a holiday of one whole day :
Provided that nothing in this sub-section shall apply to any person whose total period of employment in the week, including any days spent on authorised leave, is less than six days.
(2) The1[State] Government may, by notification, require in respect of any establishment or any specified class of establishments, that every person employed therein shall be allowed in each week an additional holiday of one half day commencing at such hour in the afternoon as may be fixed by the1[State] Government.
(3) The1[State] Government may, for the purposes of sub-section (2), fix different hours for different establishments or different classes of establishments or for different areas or for different t
No child shall be required or allowed to work in any establishment.
No young person shall be required or allowed to work in any establishment before 6 a.m. and after 7 p.m.
Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, no young person shall be required or allowed to work in any establishment for more than seven hours in any day and forty-two hours in any week nor shall such person be allowed to work overtime.
The premises of every establishment shall be kept clean and free from effluvia arising from any drain or privy or other nuisance and shall be cleansed at such times and by such methods as may be prescribed ; and these methods may include lime washing, colour washing, painting, varnishing, disinfecting and deodorising.
The premises of every establishment shall be ventilated in accordance with such standards and by such methods as may be prescribed.
(1) The premises of every establishment shall be sufficiently lighted during all working hours.
(2) If it appears to an Inspector that the premises of any establishment within his jurisdiction is not sufficiently lighted or ventilated, he may serve on the employer an order in writing specifying the measures which, in his opinion, should be adopted and requiring them to be carried out before a specified date.
In every establishment, such precautions against fire shall be taken as may be prescribed.
Against any order of the inspector under this Chapter, an appeal shall lie to such authority and within such time as may be prescribed ; and the decision of the appellate authority shall be final.
(1) Every person employed in any establishment shall be entitled, after twelve months continuous service, to holidays with wages for a period of 12 days, in the subsequent period of twelve months: Provided that such holidays with wages may be accumulated upto a maximum period of twenty-four days.
Explanation For the purposes of this sub-section any continuous period of service preceding the date on which this Act applies to any establishment shall also count, subject to a maximum period of twelve months.
(2) Every person employed in any establishment shall also be entitled during his first twelve months of continuous service after the commencement of this Act, and during every subsequent twelve months of such service, (a) to leave with wages for a period not exceeding 12 days, on the ground of any sickness incurred or accident sustained
Section 25 of the Tamil Nadu Shops and Establishments Act, 1947, deals primarily with the entitlement of employees to holidays and leave benefits after continuous service. It forms a crucial part of the legislative framework governing conditions of employment, ensuring workers' rights to rest and leisure, thereby balancing industrial peace and worker welfare.
Section 25 mandates that every employed person who has completed twelve months of continuous service shall be entitled to:- Holidays with wages (Section 25(1))- Wages for rest days, sick leave, casual leave, and festivals (Section 25(2))- The power of the State Government to increase holidays beyond twelve days (Section 25(5))- Payment in lieu of holidays if the employee is not granted leave (Section 25(1) & (2))- The definition of continuous service includes periods of authorized leave, sickness, accident, or lawful strikes, and excludes unauthorized absence (Section 25(5)).
Note: The above analysis synthesizes the legal provisions, judicial interpretations, and practical implications based on the available sources and case laws, providing a comprehensive understanding of Section 25 within the legislative framework.
Every person employed shall, for the holidays or the period of the leave allowed under sub-section (1) or (2) of section 25, be paid at a rate equivalent to the daily average of his wages for the days on which he actually worked during the preceding three months exclusive of any earnings in respect of overtime.
Notwithstanding anything contained in section 25, the1[State] Government may, by notification, increase the total number of annual holidays and the maximum number of days upto which such holidays may be accumulated in respect of any establishment or class of establishments.
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1. Substituted for "Provincial" by the Adaptation Order of 1950.
Any Inspector may institute proceedings on behalf of any person employed to recover any sum required to be paid under this Chapter by an employer which he has not paid.
Every employer shall be responsible for the payment to persons employed by him of all wages and sums required to be paid under this Act.
(1) Every employer shall fix periods (in this Act referred to as wage periods) in respect of which such wages shall be payable.
(2) No wage period shall exceed one month.
Where any person employed in any establishment is required to work overtime, he shall be entitled, in respect of such overtime work, to wages at twice the ordinary rate of wages.
Explanation -- For the purpose of this section, the expression "ordinary rate of wages" shall mean such rate of wages as may be calculated in the manner prescribed.
(1) The wages of every person employed shall be paid before the expiry of the fifth day after the last day of the wage period in respect of which the wages are payable.
(2) Where the employment of any person is terminated by or on behalf of the employer, the wages earned by such person shall be paid before the expiry of the second working day from the day on which his employment is terminated.
(3) The1[State] Government may, by general or special order, exempt an employer from the operation of this section in respect of the wages of any person employed or class of persons employed, to such extent and subject to such conditions as may be specified in the order.
(4) All payments of wages shall be made on a working day.
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All wages shall be paid in current coin or currency notes or in both.
(1) The wages of aperson employed shall be paid to him without deductions of any kind except thoseauthorised by or under this Act.
Explanation -- Everypayment made by a person employed to the employer shall, for the purpose of thisAct, be deemed to be a deduction from wages.
(2) Deduction from thewages of a person employed shall be made only in accordance with the provisionsof this Act, and may be of the following kinds only, namely ;--
(a) fines;
(b) deductions forabsence from duty;
(c) deductions fordamage to, or loss of goods expressly entrusted to the employed person forcustody, or for loss of money for which he is required to account, where suchdamage or loss is directly attributable to his neglect o
(1) No fine shall be imposed on any person employed save in respect of such acts and omissions on his part as the employer, with the previous approval of the1[State] Government or of the prescribed authority2, may have specified by notice under sub-section (2).
(2) A notice specifying such acts and omissions shall be exhibited in the prescribed manner on the premises in which the employment is carried on.
(3) No fine shall be imposed on any person employed until he has been given an opportunity of showing cause against the fine, or otherwise than in accordance with such procedure as may be prescribed for the imposition of fines.
(4) The total amount of fine which may be imposed in any one wage period on any person employed shall not exceed an amount equal to half an anna in the rupee of the wa
(1) Deductions may be made under clause (b) of sub-section (2) of section 34 only on account of the absence of an employed person from the place or places where, by the terms of his employment, he is required to work, such absence being for the whole or any part of the period during which he is so required to work.
(2) The amount of such deduction shall in no case bear to the wages payable to the employed person in respect of the wage period for which the deduction is made, a larger proportion than the period for which he was absent bears to the total period, within such wage period during which by the terms of his employment, he was required to work:
Provided that, subject to any rules made in this behalf by the1[State] Government, if ten or more employed persons acting in concert absent themselves without due notice (that is to say, wi
(1) A deduction under clause (c) of sub-section (2) of section 34 shall not exceed the amount of the damage or loss caused to the employer by the neglect or default of the person employed and shall not be made until the person employed has been given an opportunity of showing cause against the deduction, or otherwise than in accordance with such procedure as may be prescribed for the making of such deductions.
(2) All such deductions and all realizations thereof shall be recorded in a register to be kept by the employer in such form as may be prescribed.
A deduction underclause (d) or clause (e) of sub-section (2) of section 34 shall not be made fromthe wages of a person employed unless the house accommodation, amenity orservice has been accepted by him, as a term of employment or otherwise, and suchdeduction shall not exceed an amount equivalent to the value of the houseaccommodation, amenity or service supplied and in the case of deduction underthe said clause (e) shall be subject to such conditions as the 1 [State]Government may impose.
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1. Substituted for "Provincial" by the AdaptationOrder of 1950.
Deductions under clause (f) of sub-section (2) of section 34 shall be subject to the following conditions, namely :--
(a) recovery of an advance of money given before employment began shall be made from the first payment of wages in respect of a complete wage period, but no recovery shall be made of such advances given for travelling expenses;
(b) recovery of advances of wages not already earned shall be subject to any rules made by the1[State] Government regulating the extent to which such advances may be given and the instalments by which they may be recovered.
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1. Substituted for "Provincial" by the Adaptation Order of 1950.
Deductions under clauses (j) and (k) of sub-section (2) of section 34 shall be subject to such conditions as the1[State] Government may impose.
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1. Substituted for "Provincial" by the Adaptation Order of 1950.
(1) No employer shalldispense with the services of a person employed continuously for a period of notless than six months, except for a reasonable cause and without giving suchperson at least one months notice or wages in lieu of such notice, providedhowever, that such notice shall not be necessary where the services of suchperson are dispensed with on a charge of misconduct supported by satisfactoryevidence recorded at an enquiry held for the purpose.
(2) The person employedshall have a right to appeal to such authority1 and within such time2 as may prescribed either on the ground that there was no reasonable cause fordispensing with his services or on the ground that he had not been guilty ofmisconduct as held by the employer.
(3) The decision of theappellate authority shall be final and binding on both the employer and theperson emplo
Where in any case, the appellate authority, by its decision under Section 41, directs reinstatement of any person employed and the employer prefers any proceeding against such decision in a High Court or the Supreme court, the employer shall be liable to pay such person employed, during the period of pendency of such proceedings in the High Court or the Supreme Court, full wages last drawn by him, inclusive of any maintenance allowance admissible to him under any rule if the person employed had not been employed in any establishment during such period and an affidavit by such person employed had been filed to that effect in such court :
Provided that where it is proved to the satisfaction of the High Court or the Supreme Court that such person employed had been employed and had been receiving adequate remuneration during any such period or part thereof, the Court shall order that n
The1[State] Government may, by notification2, appoint such officers of the1[State] Government or of any local authority as they think fit to be Inspectors for the purposes of this Act, within such local limits as the1[State] Government may assign to them.
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1. Substituted for "Provincial" by the Adaptation Order of 1950.
2. See Appendix.
Any Inspector may at all reasonable hours enter into any premises, which is, or which he has reason to believe is, an establishment, with such assistants and make such examination of the premises and of the prescribed registers, records or notices as may be prescribed.
Every Inspector shall be deemed to be a public servant within the meaning of section 21 of the Indian Penal Code.
(1) Any employer who contravenes any of the provisions of sections 7,9 to 11, 13 to 23, 25, 26, 29 to 41 and 47 shall be punishable for a first offence, with fine which may extend to twenty-five rupees, and for a second or subsequent offence, with fine which may extend to two hundred and fifty rupees.
(2) Whoever contravenes the provisions of section 8 shall be punishable, for a first offence, with fine which may extend to ten rupees, and for a second or subsequent offence, with fine which may extend to one hundred rupees.
Any employer who fails to comply with the provisions of Section 41-A shall be punishable with imprisonment for a team which may extend to six months, or with fine, or with both and where such failure is a continuing one, with a further fine which may extend to two hundred rupees for every day during which such failure continues after the conviction for the first and the court trying the offence, if it fines the offender, may direct that the whole or any part of the fine realised from him shall be paid, by way of compensation, to any person who, in its opinion has been injured by such failure.
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1. Inserted by Tamil Nadu Act, 44 of 2008, Section 3 (With effect from 19th June, 2008).
Any person who wilfully obstructs an Inspector in the exercise of any power conferred on him under this Act or any person lawfully assisting an Inspector in the exercise of such power, or who fails to comply with any lawful direction made by an Inspector, shall be punishable with fine which may extend to two hundred and fifty rupees.
1[46-A. Compounding of offences
(1) Any offence punishable under section 45 or any rule made under section 49 may, either before or after the institution of the prosecution, be compounded by the Commissioner of Labour or such other officer as may be authorised in this behalf by the Commissioner of Labour, on payment, for credit to the State Government, of such sum as the Commissioner of Labour or such other officer may specify:
Provided that such sum shall not, in any case, exceed the maximum amount of the fine which may be imposed under this Act for the offence so compounded.
(2) Nothing contained in sub-section (1) shall apply to a person who commits the same or similar offence within a period of three years from the date on which the first offence, committed by him, was compounded.
Subject to the general or special orders of the1[State] Government, an employer shall maintain such register and records and display such notices as may be prescribed.
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1. Substituted for "Provincial" by the Adaptation Order of 1950.
(1) The1[State] Government may, by notification2, authorize any officer or authority subordinate to them, to exercise any one or more of the powers vested in them by or under this Act, except the power mentioned in section 49, subject to such restrictions and conditions, if any, as may be specified in the notification.
(2) The exercise of the powers delegated under sub-section (1) shall be subject to control and revision by the1[State] Government or by such persons as may be empowered by them in that behalf. The1[State] Government shall also have power to control and revise the acts or proceedings of any person so empowered.
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1. Substituted for "Provincial" by the Adaptation Order of 1950.
2. See Appendix.
(1) The1[State] Government may make rules to carry out the purposes of this Act.
(2) In making a rule under sub-section (1), the1[State] Government may provide that a contravention thereof shall be punishable with fine which may extend to fifty rupees.
(3) The power to make rules conferred by this section shall be subject to the condition of the rules being made after previous publication.
(4) All rules made under this section shall be published in the Fort St. George Gazette and on such publication shall have effect as if enacted in this Act.
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1. Substituted for Provincial "by the Adaptation Order of 1950.
Nothing contained in this Act shall affect any rights or privileges which any person employed in any establishment is entitled to on the date on which this Act comes into operation in respect of such establishment, under any other law, contract, custom or usage applicable to such establishment, if such rights or privileges are more favourable to him than those to which he would be entitled under this Act.
If any question arises whether all or any of the provisions of this Act apply to an establishment or to a person employed therein or whether section 50 applies to any case or not, it shall be decided by the Commissioner of Labour and his decision thereon shall be final and shall not be liable to be questioned in any Court of Law.
On any special occasion in connection with a fair or festival or a succession of public holidays, the1[State] Government may, by notification, suspend for a specified period the operation of all or any of the provisions of this Act.
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1. Substituted for Provincial "by the Adaptation Order of 1950.
On and from the date on which this Act comes into operation in respect of an establishment, the Weekly Holidays Act, 1942, shall cease to apply to such establishment.
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