Section 99: Appeal against order of competent authority
Reviewed by Finin2min Editorial Desk · Last reviewed 30 August 2026
Section 99 — Governs appeal against order of competent authority and the rights, duties, powers or procedure expressly stated in this section. Key operative text: (1) An appeal shall lie to the High Court from the following orders of a competent authority under this Chapter, namely:— (a) an order awarding as compensation a lump sum whether by way of redemption of a half-monthly payment…
The Code was commenced in stages: section 142 had earlier commencement, S.O. 5319(E) brought the specified provisions into force from 21 November 2025, and later commencement instruments must be read with the current India Code footnotes for the remaining clauses.
Provision / India Code ↗ · Official Act PDF ↗ · 2026 Central Rules ↗
Finin2min analysis — what the section actually does
Operative clauses
- (1) An appeal shall lie to the High Court from the following orders of a competent authority under this Chapter, namely:— (a) an order awarding as compensation a lump sum whether by way of redemption of a half-monthly payment or otherwise or disallowing a claim in full or in part for a lump sum;
- Provided that no appeal shall lie against any order unless a substantial question of law is involved in the appeal, and in the case of an order other than an order referred to in clause (c), unless the amount in dispute in the appeal is not less than ten thousand rupees or such higher amount as the Central Government may, by notification, specify:
- Provided further that no appeal shall lie in any case in which the parties have agreed to abide by the decision of the competent authority, or in which the order of the competent authority gives effect to an agreement arrived at by the parties:
- Provided also that no appeal by an employer under clause (a) shall lie unless the memorandum of appeal is accompanied by a certificate by the competent authority to the effect that the appellant has deposited with him the amount payable under the order appealed against.
- (2) The period of limitation for an appeal under this section shall be sixty days from the date of passing of the order.
Provisos, explanations & qualifications
- Provided that no appeal shall lie against any order unless a substantial question of law is involved in the appeal, and in the case of an order other than an order referred to in clause (c), unless the amount in dispute in the appeal is not less than ten thousand rupees or such higher amount as the Central Government may, by notification, specify:
Thresholds and timelines in the text
- Provided that no appeal shall lie against any order unless a substantial question of law is involved in the appeal, and in the case of an order other than an order referred to in clause (c), unless the amount in dispute in the appeal is not less than ten thousand rupees or such higher amount as the Central Government may, by notification, specify:
- (2) The period of limitation for an appeal under this section shall be sixty days from the date of passing of the order.
Actors expressly appearing in the text
Employer, Employee / worker, Worker, Central Government, Authority / officer
Full statutory text — Section 99
99. Appeal against order of competent authority.— (1) An appeal shall lie to the High Court from
the following orders of a competent authority under this Chapter, namely:—
(a) an order awarding as compensation a lump sum whether by way of redemption of a half-monthly
payment or otherwise or disallowing a claim in full or in part for a lump sum;
(b) an order awarding interest or damages under section 77;
(c) an order refusing to allow redemption of a half-monthly payment;
(d) an order providing for the distribution of compensation among the dependants of a deceased
employee, or disallowing any claim of a person alleging himself to be such dependant;
(e) an order allowing or disallowing any claim for the amount of an indemnity under the provisions
of sub-section (2) of section 85; or
(f) an order refusing to register a memorandum of agreement or registering the same or providing for
the registration of the same subject to conditions:
Provided that no appeal shall lie against any order unless a substantial question of law is involved in
the appeal, and in the case of an order other than an order referred to in clause (c), unless the amount in
dispute in the appeal is not less than ten thousand rupees or such higher amount as the Central Government
may, by notification, specify:
Provided further that no appeal shall lie in any case in which the parties have agreed to abide by the
decision of the competent authority, or in which the order of the competent authority gives effect to an
agreement arrived at by the parties:
Provided also that no appeal by an employer under clause (a) shall lie unless the memorandum of appeal
is accompanied by a certificate by the competent authority to the effect that the appellant has deposited with
him the amount payable under the order appealed against.
(2) The period of limitation for an appeal under this section shall be sixty days from the date of passing
of the order.
(3) The provisions of section 5 of the Limitation Act, 1963 (36 of 1963), shall be applicable to appeal
under this section.
CHAPTER VIII
SOCIAL SECURITY AND CESS IN RESPECT OF BUILDING AND
OTHER CONSTRUCTION WORKERSHow to apply this provision
- Primary statutory test — (1) An appeal shall lie to the High Court from the following orders of a competent authority under this Chapter, namely:— (a) an order awarding as compensation a lump sum whether by way of redemption of a half-monthly payment or otherwise or disallowing a claim in full or in part for a lump sum;
- Additional operative limb — Provided that no appeal shall lie against any order unless a substantial question of law is involved in the appeal, and in the case of an order other than an order referred to in clause (c), unless the amount in dispute in the appeal is not less than ten thousand rupees or such higher amount as the Central Government may, by notification, specify:
- Qualification / exception to test — Provided that no appeal shall lie against any order unless a substantial question of law is involved in the appeal, and in the case of an order other than an order referred to in clause (c), unless the amount in dispute in the appeal is not less than ten thousand rupees or such higher amount as the Central Government may, by notification, specify:
- Numerical or timing control — Provided that no appeal shall lie against any order unless a substantial question of law is involved in the appeal, and in the case of an order other than an order referred to in clause (c), unless the amount in dispute in the appeal is not less than ten thousand rupees or such higher amount as the Central Government may, by notification, specify:
- Evidence file — retain facts and records proving the role/status of: Employer, Employee / worker, Worker, Central Government, Authority / officer.
Rules, forms and cross-references
Direct 2026 Central Rule mapping
Forms mapped
No prescribed form is directly mapped in the current concordance.
Other sections cited in this text
Related Labour Hub resources
A direct concordance is not exhaustive. Central/State jurisdiction, schemes, authority appointments, saved instruments and later notifications may change the practical route without changing the section wording.
Worked example
When an event triggers appeal against order of competent authority, record the trigger date, competent authority, prescribed rule/form, filing or decision step, service/acknowledgement and final outcome. A statutory point to test is: “Provided that no appeal shall lie against any order unless a substantial question of law is involved in the appeal, and in the case of an order other than an order referred to in clause (c), unless the amount in dispute in the appeal is not less than ten thousand rupees or such h” Also test the express qualification/proviso before concluding the result.
Illustration only; it is not statutory text or a substitute for applying the actual facts, jurisdiction, current rule/scheme and official instrument.
Q&A — Section 99
What does Section 99 of the Social Security Code cover?
Section 99 — Governs appeal against order of competent authority and the rights, duties, powers or procedure expressly stated in this section. Key operative text: (1) An appeal shall lie to the High Court from the following orders of a competent authority under this Chapter, namely:— (a) an order awarding as compensation a lump sum whether by way of redemption of a half-monthly payment…
What is the main legal requirement or power in Section 99?
The first operative clause identified from the official text is: “(1) An appeal shall lie to the High Court from the following orders of a competent authority under this Chapter, namely:— (a) an order awarding as compensation a lump sum whether by way of redemption of a half-monthly payment or otherwise or disallowing a claim in full or in part for a lump sum;” Read it with the remaining subsections and any proviso below.
Does Section 99 contain a proviso or explanation?
Yes. A qualification extracted from the official text is: “Provided that no appeal shall lie against any order unless a substantial question of law is involved in the appeal, and in the case of an order other than an order referred to in clause (c), unless the amount in dispute in the appeal is not less than ten thousand rupees or such higher amount as the Central Government may, by notification, specify:”
What time limit, percentage or amount appears in Section 99?
The provision contains this numerical/time expression: “Provided that no appeal shall lie against any order unless a substantial question of law is involved in the appeal, and in the case of an order other than an order referred to in clause (c), unless the amount in dispute in the appeal is not less than ten thousand rupees or such higher amount as the Central Government may, by notification, specify:” Apply it only in the clause and context in which it appears.
Which 2026 Central Rules are linked to Section 99?
No direct Central Rule is recorded in the current concordance. That does not exclude a relevant scheme, notification, State rule or enabling provision.
Is Section 99 currently operative?
The Code was commenced in stages: section 142 had earlier commencement, S.O. 5319(E) brought the specified provisions into force from 21 November 2025, and later commencement instruments must be read with the current India Code footnotes for the remaining clauses.
Source & verification trail
Act: Code on Social Security, 2020 — official India Code PDF ↗
Central Rules: Social Security (Central) Rules, 2026 — G.S.R. 344(E), 8 May 2026 ↗
Official library: Ministry of Labour & Employment — Labour Codes ↗
Source check: 20 August 2026. Individual professional interpretation should be re-reviewed when the section, rules, notification, scheme, State overlay or controlling judgment changes.