Section 153: Powers of Labour Court

The Labour Court may, in the course of deciding a case, exercise the following powers, in addition to the powers set forth in this Act or the rules framed under this Act:

(a) To examine witness, evidence,

(b) To take the defendant’s statement equal to the note of defence, as per necessity,

(c) To order any party who is not made party or opponent in the case, on the basis of an application by such party or of the nature of the case, to appear in the course of the hearing  and set as a party to the case if so required,

(d) To inspect any place or workplace related to the dispute,

(e) If the application made by any party to the case submitting that it is necessary to defer the case until any case sub-judice in the Labour Court is finally settled or to continue the same appears to be reasonable, notwithstanding the state of the case, to issue an interlocutory order to any party to the case to stop any act for a certain time or give continuity to any act being carried out, with or without fixing a period,

(f) To uphold, withhold or alter any direction, decision or order given by the Office or the employer,

(g) The Labour Court shall, in holding the proceeding of and adjudicating the case, have the powers as mentioned in the case of the matters set forth in this Act or the rules framed under this Act, and the same powers as the District Court may exercise, in the case of the other matters.