PALKONDA VIJAYA MOHAN REDDY Vs. MD.ASADULLAH

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Initiation of prosecution against the petitioner under Sections 18, 19 and 20 of the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976 (for short "the Act") is the subject matter of challenge in the present application, which is filed under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (for short "Cr.P.C."). The allegations in the charge sheet are as under:

(2.) Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Public Prosecutor for the State.

(3.) The only point which is canvassed by the learned counsel for the petitioner is that the provisions of the Act will not apply to the petitioner as he never engaged or hired or entered into a contract with the labourers. As there is no agreement between the petitioner and the labourers, he contends that continuation of proceedings against the petitioner would be an abuse of process of law.