Appellate Authority in the case of mines for the purpose of OSH and WC Code 2020

**Executive Summary** This notification, issued by the Ministry of Labour and Employment on May 13, 2026, designates specific Gazetted officers as appellate authorities for matters concerning mines. Authorized under the Code on Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions, 2020, the document establishes a clear legal hierarchy for appeals against decisions made by mines safety officials. **Key Points / Main Content** * **Legal Authority** * The appointments are made under the powers conferred by sub-section (3) of section 111 of the Code on Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions, 2020 (37 of 2020). * **Designated Appellate Hierarchy** * **Director level appeals:** For orders or decisions made by a concerned Director of Mines Safety, the appellate authority is the Deputy Director General of Mines Safety of the relevant Zone. * **Deputy Director General level appeals:** For orders or decisions made by a Deputy Director General of Mines Safety, the appellate authority is the Director General of Mines Safety. **Impact Analysis** **Mines Safety Officials (Directors and Deputy Directors General)** **Impact** The notification defines the specific senior officers responsible for reviewing their decisions, formalizing the internal oversight process. **Action Required** Officials must ensure that any notice or decision issued provides the correct information regarding the designated appellate authority to whom an aggrieved party may apply. **Mine Owners and Operators** **Impact** Stakeholders in the mining sector gain clarity on the legal recourse available and the specific hierarchy to follow when contesting regulatory decisions. **Action Required** Parties seeking to appeal a decision must submit their applications to the Deputy Director General of the concerned zone or the Director General of Mines Safety, depending on the rank of the officer who issued the original order. **Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS)** **Impact** The senior leadership (Deputy Directors General and the Director General) is officially empowered to act as a quasi-judicial body for the purposes of the Code. **Action Required** The department must establish or update internal protocols to receive, process, and adjudicate appeals in accordance with the 2020 Code.