Rule 120: Unfit persons not to be employed
Reviewed by Finin2min Editorial Desk · Last reviewed 30 August 2026
Rule 120 — Governs unfit persons not to be employed and the rights, duties, powers or procedure expressly stated in this rule. Key operative text: Where, as a result of an initial medical examination or periodical medical examination or after medical re-examination, a person has been declared unfit for employment in mines or in a particular category of mines or in any…
Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (Central) Rules, 2026 were finally notified under G.S.R. 345(E), 8 May 2026. The Central Rules must be read with the Code and any later amendment/corrigendum.
Finin2min analysis — operative rule mechanics
Operative clauses
- Where, as a result of an initial medical examination or periodical medical examination or after medical re-examination, a person has been declared unfit for employment in mines or in a particular category of mines or in any specified operations in mine, the person, shall not be employed or continue to be employed in mine or in the category of mines or on the operations specified, after the expiry of thirty days…
- Provided that, if the qualified medical practitioner carrying out the initial medical examination, or the periodical medical examination or the appellate medical board carrying out the medical re- examination of persons already in employment is of the opinion that the disability of the person examined is of such a nature and degree that it will not seriously affect or interfere with the normal discharge of their…
Provisos / explanations
- Provided that, if the qualified medical practitioner carrying out the initial medical examination, or the periodical medical examination or the appellate medical board carrying out the medical re- examination of persons already in employment is of the opinion that the disability of the person examined is of such a nature and degree that it will not…
Thresholds & timelines
- Unfit persons not to be employed.- Where, as a result of an initial medical examination or periodical medical examination or after medical re-examination, a person has been declared unfit for employment in mines or in a particular category of mines or in any specified operations in mine, the person, shall not be employed or continue to be employed in…
- Provided that, if the qualified medical practitioner carrying out the initial medical examination, or the periodical medical examination or the appellate medical board carrying out the medical re- examination of persons already in employment is of the opinion that the disability of the person examined is of such a nature and degree that it will not…
Mapped Code sections
Full notified text — Rule 120
120. Unfit persons not to be employed.- Where, as a result of an initial medical examination or periodical
medical examination or after medical re-examination, a person has been declared unfit for employment in
mines or in a particular category of mines or in any specified operations in mine, the person, shall not be
employed or continue to be employed in mine or in the category of mines or on the operations specified,
after the expiry of thirty days from the date of medical examination unless such person has filed an appeal
against the declaration:
Provided that, if the qualified medical practitioner carrying out the initial medical examination,
or the periodical medical examination or the appellate medical board carrying out the medical re-
examination of persons already in employment is of the opinion that the disability of the person examined
is of such a nature and degree that it will not seriously affect or interfere with the normal discharge of
their duties, it may recommend their continuation in employment in the mine for a period not exceeding
six months, during which such person may get their disability cured or controlled and appear for another
medical examination after six months and be declared fit.Application and evidence
- Primary statutory test — Where, as a result of an initial medical examination or periodical medical examination or after medical re-examination, a person has been declared unfit for employment in mines or in a particular category of mines or in any specified operations in mine, the person, shall not be employed or continue to be employed in mine or in the category of mines or on the operations specified, after the expiry of thirty days…
- Additional operative limb — Provided that, if the qualified medical practitioner carrying out the initial medical examination, or the periodical medical examination or the appellate medical board carrying out the medical re- examination of persons already in employment is of the opinion that the disability of the person examined is of such a nature and degree that it will not seriously affect or interfere with the normal discharge of their…
- Qualification / exception to test — Provided that, if the qualified medical practitioner carrying out the initial medical examination, or the periodical medical examination or the appellate medical board carrying out the medical re- examination of persons already in employment is of the opinion that the disability of the person examined is of such a nature and degree that it will not…
- Numerical or timing control — Unfit persons not to be employed.- Where, as a result of an initial medical examination or periodical medical examination or after medical re-examination, a person has been declared unfit for employment in mines or in a particular category of mines or in any specified operations in mine, the person, shall not be employed or continue to be employed in…
- Code Section mapping — 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73. Read the mapped provision together with this text rather than treating the concordance as a substitute for it.
Cross-references & prescribed forms
Sections cited/mapped
Forms
No form is directly mapped in the current rule register.
Worked example
For an establishment affected by unfit persons not to be employed, the compliance owner should identify the applicable sector and authority, document the prescribed control/notice/record and retain inspection or training evidence. A text point to test is: “Unfit persons not to be employed.- Where, as a result of an initial medical examination or periodical medical examination or after medical re-examination, a person has been declared unfit for employment in mines or in a particular category of mines or in any specified operations ” Also test the express qualification/proviso before concluding the result. Reconcile the mapped Code Section(s) 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73.
Illustrative only. Use the exact notified rule, prescribed form and competent authority.
Q&A — Rule 120
What is Rule 120 of the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (Central) Rules, 2026?
Rule 120 — Governs unfit persons not to be employed and the rights, duties, powers or procedure expressly stated in this rule. Key operative text: Where, as a result of an initial medical examination or periodical medical examination or after medical re-examination, a person has been declared unfit for employment in mines or in a particular category of mines or in any…
What does Rule 120 require or permit?
A principal operative clause extracted from the notified rule is: “Where, as a result of an initial medical examination or periodical medical examination or after medical re-examination, a person has been declared unfit for employment in mines or in a particular category of mines or in any specified operations in mine, the person, shall not be employed or continue to be employed in mine or in the category of mines or on the operations specified, after the expiry of thirty days…” Read it with all sub-rules and provisos below.
Does Rule 120 contain a proviso or explanation?
Yes. One extracted qualification is: “Provided that, if the qualified medical practitioner carrying out the initial medical examination, or the periodical medical examination or the appellate medical board carrying out the medical re- examination of persons already in employment is of the opinion that the disability of the person examined is of such a nature and degree that it will not…”
What deadline, period, percentage or amount appears in Rule 120?
The rule contains this numerical/time expression: “Unfit persons not to be employed.- Where, as a result of an initial medical examination or periodical medical examination or after medical re-examination, a person has been declared unfit for employment in mines or in a particular category of mines or in any specified operations in mine, the person, shall not be employed or continue to be employed in…” Apply it only in its notified context.
Which Code sections are linked to Rule 120?
The current concordance maps Rule 120 to Section(s) 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73.
When did Rule 120 come into force?
The final Central Rules were notified as G.S.R. 345(E), 8 May 2026; Rule 1 states that the Rules come into force on publication. Check any later amendment or corrigendum before reliance.