India: Supreme Court ruling on trade union disputes.

ON a plain reading of Section 28(1A) of the Trade Union Act, the interpretation given by the High Court cannot be sustained. Section 28(1A) has been incorporated to ensure that internal disputes in a trade union get decided.

The Section specifically provides that it can be only invoked by a person who has been a member of such registered trade union for a period of not less than six months.

The words "where there is a dispute as respects whether or not any person is an office-bearer or member of a registered trade union"

has to be read along with the words "any member of such registered union for a period not less than six months". A person whose application for …