A writeup on Trade Unions Act, 1926
While some believe that the THE TRADE UNIONS ACT, 1926 provides immunity from all civil suits, the
specific section from the Act suggest only some special circumstances are given such privilege.
To protect the interests of Registered Trade Unions, its office-bearers and members against Civil and
Tortious Liability,
Section 18 - Immunity from civil suit in certain cases, was included in The Trade Unions Act, 1926 which
shields them from all such liabilities which were genuinely done in contemplation or furtherance of a
trade dispute.
While section 18(1) talks about the maintainability of the civil suits against any Registered Trade Union
or office-bearers or members to which a member of the Trade Union is a party, section 18(2) deals with
the tortious liability of Registered Trade Union for the act done by an agent of the Trade Union
Section 18(1) states:
No suit or other legal proceeding shall be maintainable in any Civil Court against any registered Trade
Union or any office-bearer or member thereof in respect of any act done in contemplation or
furtherance of a trade dispute to which a member of the Trade Union is a party on the ground only that
such act induces some other person to break a contract of employment, or that it is in interference with
the trade, business or employment of some other person or with the right of some other person to
dispose of his capital or of his labour as he wills.
This subsection says that no suit or other legal proceeding is maintainable in any Civil Court for any act
done by any registered Trade Union or its office-bearer or its member in regards or consideration or
promotion of a trade dispute which involves inducing other person to violate the contract of
employment. An act which also includes interference with the trade, business or employment of some
