Seeking Guidance: Who Handles Undisbursed Wages Under Section 25A of the Payment of Wages Act, 1936?

Hello, Section 25A of the Payment of Wages Act, 1936 provides as follows:

Payment of undisbursed wages in cases of death of employed person

(1) Subject to the other provisions of the Act, all amounts payable to an employed person as wages shall, if such amounts could not or cannot be paid on account of his death before payment or on account of his whereabouts not being known, (a) be paid to the person nominated by him in this behalf in accordance with the rules made under this Act; or (b) where no such nomination has been made or where for any reasons such amounts cannot be paid to the person so nominated, be "deposited with the prescribed authority" who shall deal with the amounts so deposited in such manner as may be prescribed.

Can any of the esteemed members guide me about who is the "Prescribed Authority" under the aforesaid section and share the relevant notification in this regard where the same has been prescribed.

Thanks and Regards,
Pankaj Srivastava

You can deposit the amount with the appropriate authority. If your establishment is under the state, then the appropriate authority will be the State's District Labour Officer or such person as per the state rules. If your establishment has branches in different states, you can approach the Central Labour Department or the Assistant Labour Commissioner (Central).

Thank you very much, Mr. Madhu, for your expert opinion. Is there any circular or notification specifying the above provision? If so, can you please share it here?