The Central Government is of the opinion that an industrial dispute involves a question of national…

Section 54(1) of the Industrial Relations Code, 2020 empowers the Central Government to refer an industrial dispute to a National Industrial Tribunal where, in its opinion, the dispute involves a question of national importance or is of such a nature that industrial establishments situated in more than one State are likely to be interested in or affected by it; under s.54(2), the National Industrial Tribunal must submit its award within the period specified in the order of reference or as extended by the Central Government. Section 42 deals with voluntary reference of disputes to arbitration, s.44 with the constitution of Industrial Tribunals, and s.53 with conciliation and the application to the Tribunal after conciliation fails. (Investigation by a Court of Inquiry, formerly s.6 of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, has no counterpart in the Code.)