An employer proposes to deduct from Lata's wages the value of goods entrusted to her that were damaged…

Rule 18(1) requires an opportunity to submit an explanation "within a period of seven days", and rule 18(3) allows the deduction if no reply comes within seven days, to be intimated to the employee within fifteen days. Section 21(2) of the Code requires this show-cause opportunity. No prior approval of the claims authority is needed.