IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH Crl. Writ Petition No. 38 of 2012

Ram Bahadur .....Petitioner VERSUS

State of Punjab and others ....Respondents CORAM:- HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE RANJIT SINGH

1. Whether Reporters of local papers may be allowed to see the judgement?

2. To be referred to the Reporters or not?

3. Whether the judgment should be reported in the Digest? PRESENT: Mr. Manish Soni, Advocate for the petitioner.

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RANJIT SINGH, J.

This petition of habeas corpus is filed for release of persons mentioned in para 3 of the petition, who statedly are being kept in illegal custody of respondents No.4 to 6. Obviously, the allegation is that they are being kept as bonded labourers. Under Section 12 of The Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976 (for short the 'Act'), it is the duty of every District Magistrate and every officer specified 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. Let the petitioner approach to the Deputy Commissioner, Mohali to act in accordance with Section 12 of the Act.

The petition is, accordingly, disposed of. January 04, 2012 ( RANJIT SINGH ) monika JUDGE