17. Criminal conspiracy in trade disputes

No 8[office-bearer] or member of a registered trade union shall be liable to punishment under sub-section (2) of section 120B of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (45 of 1860) in respect of any agreement made between the members for the purpose of furthering any such object of the trade union as is specified in section 15, unless the agreement is an agreement to commit an offence.