48. CONTEMPTS OF INDUSTRIAL OR LABOUR COURTS. – (1) Any person who fails to comply with any order of the Court under clause (b) of sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) of section 30 of this Act shall, on conviction, be punished with imprisonment which may extend to three months or with fine which may extend to five thousand rupees. (2) If any person, - (a) when ordered by the Industrial Court or a Labour Court to produce or deliver up any document or to furnish information being legally bound so to do, intentionally omits to do so; or (b) when required by the Industrial Court or a Labour Court to bind himself by an oath or affirmation to state the truth refuses to do so; (c) being legally bound to state the truth on any subject to the Industrial Court or a Labour Court refuses to answer any question demanded of him touching such subject by such Court; or (d) intentionally offers any insult or causes any interruption to the Industrial Court or a Labour Court at any stage of its judicial proceeding, he shall, on conviction, be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees or with both. (3) If any person refuses to sign any statement made by him, when required to do so, by the Industrial Court or a Labour Court, he shall, on conviction, be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three months or with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees or with both. (4) If any offence under sub-section (2) or (3), is committed in the view or presence of the Industrial Court or as the case may be, a Labour Court, such Court may, after recording the facts constituting the offence and the statement of the accused as provided in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898, V of 1898 forward the case to a Magistrate having jurisdiction to try the same, and may require security to be given for the appearance of the accused person before such Magistrate or, if sufficient security is not given, shall forward such person in custody to such Magistrate. The Magistrate to whom any case is so forwarded shall proceed to hear the complaint against the accused person in the manner provided in the said Code of Criminal Procedure. (5) If any person commits any act or publishes any writing which is calculated to improperly influence the Industrial Court, or a Labour Court or to bring such Court or a member or a Judge thereof into disrepute or contempt or to lower its or his authority, or to interfere with the lawful process of any such Court, such person shall be deemed to be guilty of contempt of such Court. (6) In the case of contempt of itself, the Industrial Court shall record the facts constituting such contempt, and make a report in that behalf to the High Court; (7) In the case of contempt of a Labour Court, such Court shall record the facts constituting such contempt, and make a report in that behalf to the Industrial Court; and thereupon, the Industrial Court may, if it considers it expedient to do so, forward the report to the High Court. (8) When any intimation or report in respect of any contempt is received by the High Court under sub-sections (6) or (7), the High Court shall deal with such contempt as if it were contempt of itself, and shall have and exercise in respect of it the same jurisdiction, powers and authority in accordance with the same procedure and practice as it has and exercises in respect of contempt of itself.
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