THE BONDED LABOUR SYSTEM (ABOLITION) ACT, 1976

THE BONDED LABOUR SYSTEM (ABOLITION) ACT, 1976

CONTENTS

Introduction

Sections

CHAPTER I

PRELIMINARY

1. Short title, extent and commencement

2. Definitions

3. Act to have overriding effect

CHAPTER II

ABOLITION OF BONDED LABOUR SYSTEM

4. Abolition of bonded labour system.

5. Agreement, custom, etc. to be void

CHAPTER III

EXTINGUISHMENT OF LIABILITY TO REPAY BONDED DEBT

6. Liability to repay bonded debt to stand extinguished

7. Property of bonded labourer to be freed from mortgage, etc.

8. Freed bonded labourer not to be evicted from homestead, etc.

9. Creditor not to accept payment against extinguished debt

CHAPTER IV

IMPLEMENTING AUTHORITIES

10. Authorities who may be specified for implementing the provisions of this Act.

11. Duty of District Magistrate and other officers to ensure credit.

12. Duty of District Magistrate and officers authorised by him.

CHAPTER V

VIGILANCE COMMITTEES

13. Vigilance Committees

14. Functions of Vigilance Committees

15. Burden of proof

CHAPTER VI

OFFENCES AND PROCEDURE FOR TRIAL

16. Punishment for enforcement of bonded labour.

17. Punishment for advancement of bonded debt.

18. Punishment for extracting bonded labour under the bonded labour system.

19. Punishment for omission or failure to restore possession of property to bonded

labourers.

20. Abetment to be an offence.

21. Offences to be tried by Executive Magistrates.

22. Cognizance of offences.

23. Offences by companies.

CHAPTER VII

MISCELLANEOUS

24. Protection of action taken in good faith.

25. Jurisdiction of civil courts barred.

26. Power to make rules.

27. Repeal and saving.

BONDED LABOUR SYSTEM (ABOLITION) RULES

THE BONDED LABOUR SYSTEM (ABOLITION) ACT, 1976

INTRODUCTION

Article 23(1) of the Constitution prohibits "begar" and other similar forms of forced labour and it

provides that any contravention of the said prohibition shall be an offence. But inspite of this

provision a system of usuary under which the debtor or his decendants or dependants have to work for the creditor without reasonable wages or with no wages in order to extinguish the debt, existed in many parts of the country. It has been found that several generations work under bondage for the repayment of a small sum which had been taken by some remote ancestor. This system of bondage implies the infringement of basic human rights and destruction of the dignity of human labour. The evils of bonded labour, having been recognised by many voluntary organisations, were highlighted by them. Many voluntary organisations raised their heads against such a system. Accordingly the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Ordinance, 1975 was promulgated by the President on 24th October, 1975. To replace the said Ordinance the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Bill, 1976 was introduced in the Parliament.

STATEMENT OF OBJECTS AND REASONS

There still exists in different parts of the country a system of usuary under which the debtor or his

decendants or dependants have to work for the creditor without reasonable wages or with no

wages in order to extinguish the debt. At times, several generations work under bondage for the

repayment of a paltry sum which had been taken by some remote ancestor. The interest rates are

exhorbitant and such bondage Can not be interpreted as the result of any legitimate contract or

agreement. The system implies the infringement of the basic human rights and destruction of the

dignity of human labour.

2. Article 23(1) of the Constitution prohibits "begar" and other similar forms of forced labour and

further provides that any contravention of the said prohibition shall be an offence punishable in

accordance with law, Article 35(a)(ii) of the Constitution not only confers the power on Parliament

to provide for punishment for the contravention of the said provisions of Article 23(1) but

expressly takes away the power of the State Legislature to make any legislation with regard to the

said matter. Accordingly, the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Ordinance, 1975, was

promulgated by the President on the 24th October, 1975. By the said Ordinance, the bonded

labour system was abolished and the bonded labourers were freed and discharged from any

obligation to render any bonded labour and their bonded debts were also extinguished. The

Ordinance further affords protection to the freed bonded labourers from eviction from their

homestead. Contraventions of the provisions of the Ordinance have been made offences

punishable in accordance with law. Provisions for the follow-up measures and economic

rehabilitation of the freed bonded labourers have also been made in the Ordinance.

3. The Bill seeks to replace the said Ordinance.

ACT 19 OF 1976

The Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Bill, 1976 was passed by both the Houses of Parliament.

It received the assent of the President on 9th February, 1976 and came on the Statute Book as

THE BONDED LABOUR SYSTEM (ABOLITION) ACT, 1976 (19 of 1976).

AMENDING ACT

The Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Amendment Act, 1985 (73 of 1985).

THE BONDED LABOUR SYSTEM (ABOLITION) ACT, 1976

(19 of 1976)

[9th February, 1976]

An Act to provide for the abolition of bonded labour system with a view to preventing the

economic and physical exploitation of the weaker sections of the people and for matters

connected therewith or incidental thereto.

BE it enacted by Parliament in the Twenty-seventh Year of the Republic of India as follows:-

CHAPTER I

PRELIMINARY

1. Short title, extent and commencement.-(1) This Act may be called the Bonded Labour

System (Abolition) Act, 1976.

(2) It extends to the whole of India.

(3) It shall be deemed to have come into force on the 25th day of October, 1975.

2. Definitions.-In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,-

(a) "advance" means an advance, whether in cash or in kind, or partly in cash or partly in kind,

made by one person (hereinafter referred to as the creditor) to another person (hereinafter

referred to as the debtor);

(b) "agreement" means as agreement (whether written or oral, or partly written and partly oral)

between a debtor and creditor, and includes an agreement providing for forced labour, the

existence of which is presumed under any social custom prevailing in the concerned locality.

Explanation.- The existence of an agreement between the debtor and creditor is ordinarily

presumed, under the social custom, in relation to the following forms of forced labour, namely: -

Adiyamar, Baramasia, Basahya, Bethu, Bhagela, Cherumar, Garru-Galu, Hali, Hari,

Harwai, Holya, Jana, Jeetha, Kamiya, Khundit-Mundit, Kuthia, Lakhari, Munjhi, Mat,

Munish system, Nit-Majoor, Paleru, Padiyal, Pannayilal, Sagri, Sanji, Sanjawat, Sewak,

Sewakia, Seri, Vetti;

the person who corresponds to such expression in accordance with the law of succession in force

in such society;

(d) "bonded debt" means an advance obtained, or presumed to have been obtained, by a bonded

labourer under, or in pursuance of the bonded labour system;

(e) "bonded labour" means any labour or service rendered under the bonded labour system;

(f) "bonded labourer" means a labourer who incurs, or has, or is presumed to have, incurred a

bonded debt;

(g) "bonded labour system" means the system of forced, or partly forced, labour under which a

debtor enters, or has, or is presumed to have, entered, into an agreement with the creditor to the

effect that,-

(i) in consideration of an advance obtained by him or by any of his lineal ascendants or

descendants (whether or not such advance is evidenced by any document) and in consideration

of the interest, if any, due on such advance, or

(ii) in pursuance of any customary or social obligation, or

(iii) in pursuance of an obligation devolving on him by succession, or

(iv) for any economic consideration received by him or by any of his lineal ascendants or

descendants, or

(v) by reason of his birth in any particular caste or community,-

he would-

(1) render, by himself or through any member of his family, or any person dependent on him,

labour or service to the creditor, or for the benefit of the creditor, for a specified period or for an

unspecified period, either without wages or for nominal wages, or

(2) for the freedom of employment or other means of livelihood for a specified period or for an

unspecified period, or

(3) forfeit the right to move freely throughout the territory of India, or

(4) forfeit the right to appropriate or sell at market value any of his property or product of his

labour or the labour of a member of his family or any person dependent on him,

and includes the system of forced, or partly forced, labour under which a surety for a debtor

enters, or has, or is presumed to have, entered, into an agreement with the creditor to the effect

that in the event of the failure of the debtor to repay the debt, he would render the bonded labour

on behalf of the debtor;

1[Explanation.-For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that any system of force or partly

forced labour under which any workman being contract labour as defined in clause (b) of subsection

(1) of section 2 of the Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act, 1970 (73 of 1970),

or an inter-State migrant workman as defined in clause (e) of sub-section (1) of section 2 of the

Inter-state Migrant Workmen (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1979

(30 of 1979), is required to render labour or service in circumstances of the nature mentioned in

sub-clause (1) of this clause or is subjected to all or any of the disabilities referred to in subclauses

(2) to ( 4), is "bonded labour system" within the meaning of this clause].

(h) "family" in relation to a person, includes the ascendant and descendant of such person;

(i) "nominal wages", in relation to any labour, means a wage which is less than,-

_________________

1. Ins. by Act 73 of 1985, sec. 2.

(a) the minimum wages fixed by the Government in relation to the same or similar labour, under

any law for the time being in force, and

(b) where no such minimum wage has been fixed in relation to any form of labour , the wages that

are normally paid, for the same or similar labour, to the labourers working in the same locality;

(j) "prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under this Act.

3. Act to have over-riding effect.- The provisions of this Act shall have effect notwithstanding

anything in consistent therewith contained in any enactment other than this Act, or in any

instrument having effect by virtue of any enactment other than this Act.

CHAPTER II

ABOLITION OF BONDED LABOUR SYSTEM

4. Abolition of bonded labour system.-(1) On the commencement of this Act, the bonded

labour system shall stand abolished any every bonded labourer shall, on such commencement,

stand freed and discharged from any obligation to render any bonded labour.

(2) After the commencement of this Act, no person shall-

(a) make any advance under, or in pursuance of, the bonded labour system, or

(b ) compel any person to render any bonded labour or other form of forced labour.

COMMENTS

The bonded labour system has been abolished from 25th October, 1975 and every bonded

labourer has been set free and has been discharged from any obligation to render any bonded

labour from this date. No person is allowed to make an advance under, or in pursuance of the

bonded labour system. No one can compel any person to render any bonded labour or other form

of forced labour.

5. Agreement, custom, etc., to be void.-On the commencement of this Act, any custom or

tradition or any contract, agreement or other instrument (whether entered into or executed before

or after the commencement of this Act) by virtue of which any person, or any member of the

family or dependent of such person, is required to do any work or render any service as a bonded

labourer, shall be void and inoperative.

COMMENTS

From 25th October, 1975 any custom or tradition or any agreement or other instrument (whether

entered into or executed before or after 25th October, 1975) by virtue of which any person or any

member of his family or dependent is required to do any work or rendor any service as a bonded

labourer, shall be void and it shall not be operative.

CHAPTER III

EXTINGUISHMENT OF LIABILITY TO REPAY BONDED DEBT

6. Liability to repay bonded debt to stand extinghised.-(1) On the commencement of this Act

every obligation of a bonded labourer to repay any bonded debt or such part of any bonded debt

as remains unsatisfied immediately before such commencement, shall be deemed to have been

extinguished.

(2) After the commencement of this Act, no suit or other proceeding shall lie in any civil court or

before any other authority for the recovery of any bonded debt or any part thereof.

(3) Every decree or order for the recovery of bonded debt, passed before the commencement of

this Act and not fully satisfied before such commencement, shall be deemed, on such

commencement, to have been fully satisfied.

(4) Every attachment made before the commencement of this Act, for the recovery of any bonded

debt, shall, on such commencement, stand vacated; and, where, in pursuance of his custody and

kept in the custody of any court or other authority pending sale thereof, such movable property

shall be restored, as soon as may be practicable after such commencement, to the possession of

the bonded labourer.

(5) Where, before the commencement of this Act, possession of any property belonging to a

bonded labourer or a member of his family or other dependent was forcibly taken over by any

creditor for the recovery of any bonded debt, such property shall be restored, as soon as may be

practicable after such commencement, to the possession of the person from whom it was seized.

(6) If restoration of the possession of any property referred to in sub-section (4) or sub-section (5)

is not made within thirty days from the commencement of this Act, the aggrieved person may,

within such time as may be prescribed, apply to the prescribed authority for the restoration of the

possession of such property and the prescribed authority may, after giving the creditor a

reasonable opportunity of being heard, direct the creditor to restore to the applicant the

possession of the concerned property within such time as may be specified in the order .

(7) An order made by any prescribed authority, under sub-section (6), shall be deemed to be an

order made by a civil court and may be executed by the court of the lowest pecuniary jurisdiction

within the local limits of whose jurisdiction the creditor voluntarily resides or carries on business or

personally works for gain.

(8) For the avoidance of doubts, it is hereby declared that, where any attached property was sold

before the commencement of this Act, in execution of a decree or order for the recovery of a

bonded debt, such sale shall not be affected by any provision of this Act.

Provided that the bonded labour, or an agent authorised by him in this behalf, may, at any time

within five years from such commencement, apply to have the sale set aside on his depositing in

court for payment to the decree-holder, the amount specified in the proclamation of sale, for the

recovery of which the sale was ordered, less any amount, as well as mesne profits, which may,

since the date of such proclamation of sale, have been received by the decree-holder.

(9) Where any suit or proceeding, for the enforcement of any obligation under the bonded labour

system, including a suit or proceeding for the recovery of any advance made to a bonded

labourer, is pending at the commencement of this Act, such suit or other proceeding shall, on

such commencement, stand dismissed.

(10) On the commencement of this Act, every bonded labourer who has been detained in civil

prison, whether before or after judgment, shall be released from detention forthwith.

COMMENTS

Under section 6 of the Act every obligation of a bonded labourer to repay any bonded debt have

been extinguished no suit or other proceeding shall lie for the recovery of any such debt. Every

decree or order for the recovery of bonded debt shall be deemed to have been fully satisfied.

Every attach made for the recovery of bonded debt shall stand vacated. If possession of any

property belonging to a bonded labourer or a member of his family or other dependent was

forcibly taken over by any creditor for the recovery of the bonded debt, such property shall be

restored.

7. Property of bonded labourer to be freed from mortgage, etc.- (1) All property vested in a

bonded labourer which was, immediately before the commencement of this Act under any

mortgage, charge, lien or other encumbrances in connection with any bonded debt shall, in so far

as it is relatable to the bonded debt, stand freed and discharged from such mortgage, charge, lien

or other encumbrances, and where any such property was, immediately before the

commencement of this Act, in the possession of the mortgagee or the holder of the charge, lien or

incumbrance, such property shall (except where it was subject to any other charge), on such

commencement, be restored to the possession of the bonded labourer .

(2) If any delay is made in restoring any property referred to in sub-section (1) to the possession

of the bonded labourer, such labourer shall be entitled, on and from the date of such

commencement, to recover from the mortgagee or holder of the lien, charge or incumbrance,

such mesne profits as may be determined by the civil court of the lowest pecuniary jurisdiction

within the local limits of whose jurisdiction such property is situated.

COMMENTS

Any property vested in a bonded labourer which was under any mortgage, charge, lien or other

encumbrances in connection with any bonded debt stands freed and discharged and if the

possession of the said property was with the mortgagee or other holder of the charge, lien or

incumberance will be restored to the possession of the bonded labourer.

8. Freed bonded labourer not to be evicted from homestead, etc.-(1) No person who has

been freed and discharged under this Act from any obligation, to render any bonded labour, shall

be evicted from any homestead or other residential premises which he was occupying

immediately before the commencement of this Act as part of the consideration for the bonded

labour.

(2) If, after the commencement of this Act, any such person is evicted by the creditor from any

homestead or other residential premises, referred to in sub-section (1), the Executive Magistrate

in charge of the Sub-Division within which such homestead or residential premises is situated

shall, as early as practicable, restore the bonded labourer to the possession of such homestead

or other residential premises.

COMMENTS

No person who has been freed and discharged from any obligation to render any bonded labour

will be evicted from any homestead or other residential premises as part of the consideration for

the bonded labour.

9. Creditor not to accept payment against extinguished debt.-(1) No creditor shall accept any

payment against any bonded debt which has been extinguished or deemed to have been

extinguished or fully satisfied by virtue of the provisions of this Act.

(2) Whoever contravenes the provisions of sub-section (1), shall be punishable with imprisonment

for a term which may extend to three years and also with fine.

(3) The court, convicting any person under sub-section (2) may, in addition to the penalties which

may be imposed under that sub-section, direct the person to deposit, in court, the amount

accepted in contravention of the provisions of sub-section (1), within such per as may be

specified in the order for being refunded to the bonded labourer.

CHAPTER IV

IMPLEMENTING AUTHORITIES

10. Authorities who may be specified for implementing the provisions of this Act.-

The State Government may confer such powers and impose such duties on a District Magistrate

as may be necessary to ensure that the provisions of this Act are properly carried out and the

District Magistrate may specify the officer, subordinate to him, who shall exercise all or any of the

powers, and perform all or any of the duties, so conferred or imposed and the local limits within

which such powers or duties shall be carried out by the officer so specified.

11. Duty of District Magistrate and other officers to ensure credit.- The District Magistrate

authorised by the State Government under section 10 and the officer specified by the District

Magistrate under that section shall, as far as practicable, try to promote the welfare of the freed

bonded labourer by securing and protecting the economic interests of such bonded labourer so

that he may not have any occasion or reason to contract and further bonded debt.

12. Duty of District Magistrate and officers authorised by him.-It shall be the duty of every

District Magistrate and every officer specified by him under section 10 to inquire whether, after

the commencement of this Act, any bonded labour system or any other form of forced labour is

being enforced by, or on behalf of, any person resident within the local limits of his jurisdiction

and if, as a result of such enquiry, any person is found to be enforcing the bonded labour system

or any other system of forced labour, he shall forthwith take such action as may be necessary to

eradicate the enforcement of such forced labour.

CHAPTER V

VIGILANCE COMMITTEES

13. Vigilance Committees.-(1) Every State Government shall, by notification in the Official

Gazette, constitute such number of Vigilance Committees in each district and each Sub-Division

as it may think fit.

(2) Each Vigilance Committee, constituted for a district, shall consist of the following members,

namely :-

(a) the District Magistrate, or a person nominated by him, who shall be the Chairman;

(b) three persons belonging to the Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes and residing in

the district, to be nominated by the District Magistrate;

(d) not more than three persons to represent the official or non-official agencies in the

district connected with rural development, to be nominated by the State Government;

(e) one person to represent the financial and credit institutions in the district, to be

nominated by the District Magistrate.

(3) Each Vigilance Committee, constituted for a Sub-Division, shall consist of the

following members, namely :-

(a) the Sub-Divisional Magistrate, or person nominated by him, who shall be the

Chairman;

(b) three persons belonging to the Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes and residing in

the Sub-Division, to be nominated by the Sub-Divisional Magistrate;

Divisional Magistrate;

(d) not more than three persons to represent the official or non-official agencies in the

Sub-Division connected with rural development to be nominated by the District

Magistrate;

(e) one person to represent the financial and credit institutions in the Sub-Division, to be

nominated by the Sub-Divisional Magistrate;

(f) one officer specified under section 10 and functioning in the Sub-Division.

(4) Each Vigilance Committee shall regulate its own procedure and secretarial-assistance, as

may be necessary, shall be provided by-

(a) the District Magistrate, in the case of a Vigilance Committee constituted for the

district;

(b) the Sub-Divisional Magistrate, in the case of a Vigilance Committee constituted for the

Sub-Division.

(5) No proceeding of a Vigilance Committee shall be invalid merely by reason of any defect in the

constitution, or the proceedings, of the Vigilance Committee.

14. Functions of Vigilance Committees.-(1) The functions of each Vigilance Committee shall

be,-

(a) to advise the District Magistrate or any officer authorised by him as to the efforts

made, and action taken, to ensure that the provisions of this Act or of any rule made

thereunder are properly implemented;

(b) to provide for the economic and social rehabilitation of the freed bonded labourers;

analising adequate credit to the freed bonded labourer;

(d) to keep an eye on the number of offences of which cognizance has been taken under

this Act;

(e) to make a survey as to whether there is any offence of which cognizance ought to be

taken under this Act;

(f) to defend any suit instituted against a freed bonded labourer or a number of his family

or any other person dependent on him for the recovery of the whole or part of any

bonded debt or any other debt which is claimed by such person to be bonded debt.

(2) A Vigilance Committee may authorise one of its members to defend a suit against a freed

bonded labourer and the member so authorised shall be deemed, for the purpose of such suit, to

be the authorised agent of the freed bonded labourer.

15. Burden of proof.-Whenever any debt is claimed by a bonded labourer, or a Vigilance

Committee, to be a bonded debt, the burden of proof that such debt is not a bonded debt shall lie

on the creditor.

COMMENTS

The burden of proving that a particular debt is not a bonded debt will be on the creditor.

CHAPTER VI

OFFENCES AND PROCEDURE FOR TRIAL

16. Punishment for enforcement of bonded labour.-Whoever, after the commencement of this

Act, compels any person to render any bonded labour shall be punishable with imprisonment for

a term which may extend to three years and also with fine which may extend to two thousand

rupees.

COMMENTS

Punishment for compelling any person to rendor any bonded labour is imprisonment for three

years and a fine of two thousand rupees-

17. Punishment for advancement of bonded debt.-Whoever advances, after the

commencement of this Act, any bonded debt shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term

which may extend to three years and also with fine which may extend to two thousand rupees.

18. Punishment for extracting bonded labour under the bonded labour system.- Whoever

enforces after the commencement of this Act, any custom, tradition, contract, agreement or other

instrument, by virtue of which any person or any member of the family of such person or any

dependent of such person is required to render any service under the bonded labour system,

shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years and also with

fine which may extend to two thousand rupees; and, out of the fine, if recovered, payment shall

be made to the bonded labourer at the rate of rupees five for each day for which the bonded

labour was extracted from him.

19. Punishment for omission or failure to restore possession of property to bonded

labourers.-Whoever, being required by this Act to restore any property to the possession of any

bonded labourer, omits or fails to do so, within a period of thirty days from the commencement of

this Act, shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year, or with

fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both; and, out of the fine, if recovered,

payment shall be made to the bonded labourer at the rate of rupees five for each day during

which possession of the property was not restored to him ;

20. Abetment to be an offence.- Whoever abets any offence punishable under this Act shall,

whether or not the offence abetted is committed, be punishable with the same punishment as is

provided for the offence which has been abetted.

Explanation.-For the purpose of this Act, "abetment" has the meaning assigned to it in the Indian

Penal Code (45 of 1860).

21. Offences to be tried by Executive Magistrates.-(1) The State Government may confer, on

an Executive Magistrate, the powers of a Judicial Magistrate of the first class or of the second

class for the trial of offences under this Act; and, on such conferment of powers, the Executive

Magistrate on whom the powers are so conferred, shall be deemed, for the purposes of the Code

of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974), to be a Judicial Magistrate of the first class, or of the

second class, as the case may be.

(2) An offence under this Act may be tried summarily by a Magistrate.

22. Cognizance of offences.-Every offence under this Act shall be cognizable and bailable.

23. Offences by companies.-(1) Where an offence under this Act has been committed by a

company, every person who, at the time the offence was committed, was in charge of, and was

responsible to, the company for the conduct of the business of the company, as well as the

company, shall be deemed to be guilty of the offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against

and punished accordingly.

(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), where any offence under this Act, has

been committed by a company and it is proved that the offence has been committed with the

consent or connivance of, or is attributable to, any neglect on the part of, any director, manager,

secretary or other officer of the company, such director, manager, secretary or other officer shall

be deemed to be guilty of that offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished

accordingly.

Explanation.-For the purposes of this section,-

(a) "company" means any body corporate and includes a firm or other association of individuals;

and

(b) "director", in relation to a firm, means a partner in the firm.

CHAPTER VII

MISCELLANEOUS

24. Protection of action taken in good faith.-No suit, prosecution or other legal proceeding

shall lie against any State Government or any officer of the State Government or any member of

the Vigilance Committee for anything which is in good faith done or intended to be done under

this Act.

25. Jurisdiction of civil courts barred.-No civil court shall have jurisdiction in respect of any

matter to which any provisions of this Act applies and no injunction shall be granted by any civil

court in respect of anything which is done or intended to be done by or under this Act.

26. Power to make rules.-(1) The Central Government may, by notification in the Official

Gazette, make rules for carrying out the provisions of this Act.

(2) In particular, and without prejudice to the foregoing power, such rules may provide for all or

any of the following matters, namely:-

(a) the authority to which application for the restoration of possession of property referred

to in sub-section (4), or sub-section (5), of section 6 is to be submitted in pursuance of

sub-section (6) of that section;

(b) the time within which application for restoration of possession of property is to be

made under sub-section (6) of section 6, to the prescribed authority;

section 14, to ensure the implementation of the provisions of this Act or of any rule made

thereunder;

(d) any other matter which is required to be, or may be, prescribed.

(3) Every rule made by the Central Government under this Act shall be laid, as soon as may be

after it is made, before each House of Parliament while it is in session, for a total period of thirty

days which may be comprised in one session or in two or more successive sessions, and if,

before the expiry of the session immediately following the session or successive sessions

aforesaid, both Houses agree in making any modification in the rule or both Houses agree that

the rule should not be made, the rule shall thereafter have effect only in such modified form or be

of no effect, as the case may be; so, however, that any such modification or annulment shall be

without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done under that rule.

27. Repeal and saving.-(1) The Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Ordinance, 1975 (17 of 1975)

is hereby repealed.

(2) Notwithstanding such repeal, anything done or any action taken under the Ordinance

(including any notification published, direction or nomination made, power conferred, duty

imposed or officer specified) shall be deemed to have been done or taken under the

corresponding provisions of this Act.

THE BONDED LABOUR SYSTEM (ABOLITION) RULES, 19761

In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1), read with sub-section (2) of section 26 of

the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976 (19 of 1976), the Central Government hereby

makes the following rules, namely :-

1. Short title and commencement.-(1) These rules may be called the Bonded Labour system

(Abolition) Rules, 1976.

(2) They shall come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette.

2. Definitions.-In these rules, unless the context otherwise requires,-

(a) " Act" means the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976 (19 of 1976);

(b) "District Vigilance Committee" means a Vigilance Committee constituted for a district under

sub-section (1) of section 13;

(d) "Sub-Divisional Vigilance Committee" means a Vigilance Committee constituted or a subdivision

under sub-section (1) of section 13.

3. Term of Office, and vacation of seat, of members of District Vigilance Committee.-2[(1)

Every member of a District Vigilance Committee, nominated under clauses (b), (c), (d) and (e) of

sub-section (2) of section 13 shall hold office for a period of two years from the date on which his

nomination is notified in the Official Gazette and shall, on the expiry of the said period, continue to

hold office until his successor is nominated and shall also be eligible for re-nomination.]

(2) Every member referred to in sub-rule (1)---

3[(a) may, by giving notice in writing of not less than 30 days to the authority which

nominated him, resign his office and, on such resignation being accepted or on the expiry

of the notice period of 30 days, whichever is earlier, shall be deemed to have vacated his

office.]

(b) shall be deemed to have vacated his office-

(i) if he fails to attend three consecutive meetings of the District Vigilance

Committee without obtaining leave of the Chairman of such absence:

Provided that the authority, which nominated him may, if it is satisfied that such member was

prevented by sufficient cause from attending the three consecutive meetings of the Committee,

restore him to membership;

(ii) if he becomes subject to any of the following disqualifications, namely :-

(1) is adjudged involvent;

(2) is declared to be of unsound mind by a competent court;

(3) is convicted of an offence which, in the opinion of the authority, which

nominated him, involves moral turpitude;

___________________________________

1. Vide G.S.R 99(E), dated 28th February, 1976, published in Gazette of India, Extra., Pt. II, sec.

3(i), dated 28th February, 1976.

2. Subs. by S.O. 1755, dated 12th March, 1983.

3. Subs. by G.S.R. 1455, dated 16th November, 1978.

that such member has ceased to represent the interest to represent which he was nominated:

Provided that a member shall not be removed from office under this clause unless a reasonable

opportunity is given to him for showing cause against such removal.

(3) A member, nominated to fill a casual vacancy shall hold office for the unexpired portion of the

term of his predecessor.

4. Term of office, and vacation of seat, of members of Sub-Divisional Vigilance

Committee.-1[(1) Every member of a Sub-Divisional Vigilance Committee, nominated under

clauses (b), (c), (d) and (e) of sub-section (3) of section 13 shall hold office for a period of two

years from the date on which his nomination is notified in the Official Gazette and shall, on the

expiry of the said period, continue to hold office until his successor is nominated and shall also be

eligible for re-nomination.]

(2) Every member referred to in sub-rule (1)-

2[(a) may, by giving notice in writing of not less than 30 days, to the authority which

nominated him, resign his office and, on such resignation being accepted or on the expiry

of the notice period of 30 days, whichever is earlier , shall be deemed to have vacated his

office.]

(b) shall be deemed to have vacated his office-

(i) if he fails to attend three consecutive meetings of the Sub-Divisional Vigilance Committee

without obtaining leave of the Chairman of such Committee for such absence :

Provided that the authority which nominated him may, if it is satisfied that such member was

prevented by sufficient cause from attending three consecutive meetings of the Committee

restore him to membership;

(ii) if he becomes subject to any of the following disqualifications, namely:-

(1) is adjudged insolvent;

(2) is declared to be of unsound mind by a competent court;

(3) is convicted of an offence which, in the opinion of the authority which nominated him,

involves moral turpitude;

that such member has ceased to represent the interest to represent which he was nominated:

Provided that a member shall not be removed from officer under this clause unless a reasonable

opportunity is given to him for showing cause against such removal.

(3) A member nominated to fill a casual vacancy shall hold office for the unexpired portion of the

term of his predecessor.

5. Prescribed authority under sub-section (6) of section 6.-An application under sub-section

(6) of section 6 for restoration of possession of any property referred to in sub-section (4) or subsection

(5) of that section shall be made to the Executive Magistrate, on whom the powers of a

Judicial Magistrate of the first class or of the second class have been conferred under sub-section

(1) of section 21, and within the local limits of whose jurisdiction the said property is, or the

applicant has reason to believe is, situated at the time of making the application :

___________________________

1. Subs. by S.O.1755, dated 12th March, 1983.

2. Subs. by G.S.R. 1455, dated 16th November, 1978.

Provided that where there are two Executive Magistrates, on one of whom the powers of a

Judicial Magistrate of the first class and on the other the powers of a Judicial Magistrate of the

second class have been conferred under sub-section (1) of section 21 having jurisdiction to

entertain the application for restoration of possession of property referred to in sub-rule (1), the

application shall be made to the Executive Magistrate on whom the powers of a Judicial

Magistrate of the second class have been conferred.

6. Time within which an application under sub-section (6) of section 6 is to be made.-An

application under sub-section (6) of section 6 for restoration of possession of any property

referred to in sub-section. (4) or sub-section (5) of that section shall be made within a period of

ninety days from the date on which these rules come into force.

7. Records to be maintained by District Vigilance Committees to ensure the

implementation of the provisions of the Act and Rules.-In order to ensure the implementation

of the Act and the Rules, every District Vigilance Committee shall maintain the following registers

in respect of freed bonded labour within the local limits of its jurisdiction, namely :-

(a) a register containing the names and addresses of freed bonded labour;

(b) a register containing statistics relating to the vocation, occupation and income of every

freed bonded labour;.

including benefits in the form of land, inputs for agriculture, training in handicrafts and

allied occupations, loans at differential rates of interest or employment in urban or nonurban

areas;

(d) a register containing details of cases under sub-section (6) of section 6, sub-section (2) of

section 8, sub-section (2) of section 9, section 16, section 17, section 18, section 19 and

section 20.

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THE BONDED LABOUR SYSTEM (ABOLITION) ACT, 1976

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