law: Industrial Disputes Act, 1947
  12. Duties of conciliation officers
  (1) Where any industrial dispute exists or is
  
  apprehended, the conciliation officer may, or where the dispute relates to a
  
  public utility service and a notice under section 22 has been given, shall,
  
  hold conciliation proceedings in the prescribed manner.
  (2) The conciliation officer shall, for the purpose of bringing
  
  about a settlement of the dispute, without delay, investigate the dispute and
  
  all matters affecting the merits and the right settlement thereof and may do
  
  all such things as he thinks fit for the purpose of inducing the parties to
  
  come to a fair and amicable settlement of the dispute.
  (3) If a settlement of the dispute or of any of the matters in
  
  dispute is arrived at in the course of the conciliation proceedings the
  
  conciliation officer shall send a report thereof to the appropriate government 84[or
  
  an officer authorized in this behalf by the appropriate government] together
  
  with a memorandum of the settlement signed by the parties to the dispute.
  (4) If no such settlement is arrived at , the conciliation
  
  officer shall, as soon as practicable after the close of the investigation,
  
  send to the appropriate Government a full report setting forth the steps taken
  
  by him for ascertaining the facts and circumstances relating to the dispute and
  
  for bringing about a settlement thereof, together with a full statement of such
  
  facts and circumstances, and the reasons on account of which, in his opinion, a
  
  settlement could not be arrived at.
  (5) If, on a consideration of the report referred to in
  
  sub-section (4), the appropriate government is satisfied that there is a case
  
  for reference to a Board, 85[  Labor Court , Tribunal or National
  
  Tribunal], it may make such reference. Where the appropriate government does
  
  not make such a reference it shall record and communicate to the parties
  
  concerned its reasons therefor.
  (6) A report under this section shall be submitted within
  
  fourteen days of the commencement of the conciliation proceedings or within such
  
  shorter period as may be fixed by the appropriate government:
   38  [PROVIDED that, 18[subject to the
  
  approval of the conciliation officer,] the time for the submission of the
  
  report may be extended by such period as may be agreed upon in writing by all the
  
  parties to the dispute.]