Contents of the OSH Code

The Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020

Section 114. Composition of certain offences

In force since 21 Nov 2025Chapter XII — Offences and Penalties

Official text

(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, any penalty under sub-section (3) of section 12 or section 94 or section 96 or sub-section (1) of section 97 or section 99 or section 106 or sub-section (3) or any offence under sub-section (2) of section 97 or sub-section (1) of section 100 or section 101 or clause (b) of sub-section (1) of section 103 or section 105 or sub-section (2) of section 113 may either before or after the holding the enquiry or, as the case may be, of institution of prosecution may be compounded by such officer of the appropriate Government as may be notified by that Government in the manner as may be prescribed by it—

(a) in a case of penalty for a sum of fifty per cent. of the maximum penalty provided for such penalty; and

(b) in a case of offence for a sum of seventy-five per cent. of the maximum fine provided for such offence.

(2) Where a penalty or an offence has been compounded under sub-section (1), the person liable for penalty or the offender, as the case may be, shall be discharged of the penalty or offence and there shall be no further proceedings against him in respect of such penalty or offence.

(3) Any person who fails to comply with an order made by the officer referred to in sub-section (1), shall be liable to pay a penalty equivalent to twenty per cent. of the maximum penalty or fine provided for the penalty or the offence, as the case may be, in addition to the penalty or fine.

(4) The amount of composition received under sub-section (1) shall be credited to the fund established under sub-section (1) of section 115 for the unorganised workers.

(5) Nothing contained in sub-section (1) shall apply to a penalty or an offence committed by a person for a second or subsequent time within a period of three years from the date of penalty or offence, as the case may be,—

(a) which was earlier compounded; or

(b) for which such person was earlier convicted.

Source: The Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020, Act No. 37 of 2020 — Gazette of India, pp. 59–60 of the PDF. Open our copy at p. 59 · official download · all sources

Acts cited in the margin: 2 of 1974

Notifications under this section

  • S.O. 2482(E), 13 May 2026: Notification regarding officer for composition of offences in case of major ports under the OSH and WC Code 2020
  • S.O. 2490(E), 13 May 2026: Notification regarding Officer for composition of offences in case of Mines under the OSH and WC Code 2020
  • S.O. 2507(E), 13 May 2026: Notification regarding officer for composition of offences in case of CLC under the OSH and WC Code 2020

Commencement In force since 21 Nov 2025

Notification wording (1)
  • S.O. 5321(E), in force from 21 Nov 2025: “the Central Government hereby appoints the 21st day of November, 2025 as the date on which the provisions of the said Code, shall come into force”