Case Law Analysis
|Punjab and Haryana High Court
Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976 Sections 16-17 | District Magistrate Must Initiate Inquiry Within 7 Days on Prima Facie Forced Labour Allegations: Punjab & Haryana HC
The Punjab & Haryana High Court has ruled that any prima facie allegation of bonded labour triggers an immediate, mandatory duty for the District Magistrate to launch a statutory inquiry under Sections 16-17 of the Bonded Labour Act within seven days. This sets a binding timeline for executive action, transforming passive complaints into enforceable rights for vulnerable labourers and holding district authorities accountable for constitutional violations under Articles 21 and 23.