Shahdin v. State Of Haryana And Others

CRWP No.12254 of 2023 -12023:PHHC:162419

IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT

CHANDIGARH CRWP No.12254 of 2023 Date of decision: 18.12.2023 Shahdin .... Petitioner

Versus

State of Haryana and others .... Respondents CORAM: HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE MANJARI NEHRU KAUL

Present:

Mr. Subhash Kumar, Advocate for the petitioner.

**** Manjari Nehru Kaul, J. (Oral) Petitioner has filed this petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for issuance of a writ in the nature of Habeas Corpus directing the respondents to release the detenues, mentioned in para No.4 of the petition, from the illegal detention of respondents No.6 and 7. 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, however, clarify that the aforesaid observation does not mean that the allegations levelled by the appellant have been accepted. Suffice it to SONIA BURA 2023.12.19 11:09 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document

CRWP No.12254 of 2023 -22023:PHHC:162419 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 set aside/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, Kurukshetra 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. (MANJARI NEHRU KAUL) JUDGE 18.12.2023 sonia Whether speaking/reasoned:

Yes/No Whether reportable:

Yes/No SONIA BURA 2023.12.19 11:09 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document