(1) Any union (hereinafter referred to as the "applicant union") Which has for the whole of the period of six calendar months immediately preceding the calendar month in which it so applies under this section a membership of not less than thirty per cent. of the total number of employees employed in any undertaking may apply in the prescribed form to the Industrial Court for being registered as a recognised union for such undertaking.
(2) Every such application shall be disposed of by the Industrial Court as far as possible within three months from the date of receipt of the application, where a group of concerns in any industry which is notified to be one undertaking for which recognition is applied for is situated in the same local area ; and in any other case, within four months.
Explanation.- "local area" for the purposes of this sub-section means the area which the State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify in the notification.