Mange Ram v. State Of Haryana And ORS

Crl. Writ Petition No. 82 of 2015 -1- In the High Court of Punjab and Haryana at Chandigarh Crl. Writ Petition No. 82 of 2015 Date of decision: 16.1.2015 Mange Ram ......Petitioner

Versus

State of Haryana and others .......Respondents CORAM: HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE SABINA

Present:

Mr. Anoop Singla, Advocate for the petitioner.

**** SABINA, J.

Petitioner has filed this petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for issuance of a writ in the nature of Habeas Corpus seeking a direction to the official respondents to get released the detenues mentioned in para No. 3 of the petition from the illegal custody of respondents No. 5 to 7. Heard.

It has been held by this Court in 'Murti versus The State of Punjab and others, LPA No. 32 of 2013', as under:- "It may be mentioned here that the allegations of the appellant in the writ petition are that the alleged detenues mentioned in para No.3 of the writ petition who are working as labourers at the brick kiln of respondent Nos.4 & 5 are being kept as bonded labours. There can indeed be no doubt that if a labourer has been detained as bonded labour, it amounts to an offence under Sections 16 & 17 of the Bonded Labour (Abolition) Act, 1976. We, GURPREET SINGH 2015.01.16 15:58 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this document Chandigarh

Crl. Writ Petition No. 82 of 2015 -2however, clarify that the aforesaid observation does not mean that the allegations levelled by the appellant have been accepted. Suffice it to observe that under the Act, the District Magistrate is under statutory obligation to hold a fact finding enquiry as and when a complaint alleging violation of the provisions of Bonded Labour (Abolition) Act, 1976 is received. Since the appellant in the instant case has specifically averred that the persons mentioned in para No.3 of the writ petition have been detained as bonded labourers, we allow this appeal and setaside/modify the order dated 9.1.2013 passed by the learned Single Judge to the extent that the petitioner's writ petition is disposed of with a direction to the District Magistrate, Sangrur, to treat this writ petition as a complaint under the 1976 Act and take immediate action in accordance with law, within a period of one week from the date of receiving a certified copy of this order alongwith a copy of the writ petition."

Accordingly, this Criminal Writ Petition is disposed of with a direction to District Magistrate, Jhajjar-respondent No. 2 to treat this petition as a complaint under the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976 and take immediate action in accordance with law, within a period of one week from the date of receiving a certified copy of this order along with a copy of the writ petition. (SABINA) JUDGE January 16, 2015 Gurpreet GURPREET SINGH 2015.01.16 15:58 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this document Chandigarh