LALA KARAM CHAND THAPAR Vs. STATE OF BIHAR

JUDGEMENT

(1.) In these applications, under Article 226 of the Constitution, a common question of law arises for deter-mination, namely, whether the Indian Coal Mines Regulations of 1928, framed under, Section 29 of the Indian Mines Act (Act IV of 1923). survive after repeal of that Act under Section 88 of the Mines Act (Act XXXV of 1952).

(2.) In the Purulia Sadar Sub-division of Manbhum district there is a colliery known as Amlabad Colliery. The colliery was started in the year 1917 by the Eastern Coal Company Lirnitsd, under the managing agency of Mackinnon Mackenzie and Company. In January 1955 the ownership of the colliery passed into the hands of Bhowra--Kankanee Collieries Limited, which is a public limited company incorporated under the Indian Companies Act. On the 5th of February 1955, there was a serious accident in the Amiabad Colliery, as a result of which 52 persons were killed and one person was injured. Thereafter the Government of India appointed Mr. Justice Jamuar, a Judge of the Patna High Court, to hold an inquiry under Section 24 of the Mines Act of 1952 (Act XXXV of 1952), by a notification No. S. R. 338, dated the 9th February, 1955. By the same notification two persons were appointed to act as assessors in holding the inquiry, namely, Sri A. P. Sinha M- P. arid Sri L. M. L. Shome, Chief Mining Etiigneer and Secretary oE the Coal Board. Later on Sri A. P. Sinha, M. P. submitted his resignation, and the Government of India appointed in his place Sri S N. Das, M. P., by a notification dated the 1st of March, 1955. After the completion of the inquiry, the Court of inquiry submitted a report dated the 26th of September, 1955, and in pursuance of Section 27 of the Mines Act, 1952, the Central Government published the report by notification no. S. R. O. 3688, dated the 7th December 1955, The finding of the Court of inquiry was that the accident was due to the negligence of the supervisory staff. On the 3rd of March, 1956, the Central Government acted under Regulation 48 ot the Indian Coal Mines Regulations of 1926 and directed that an inquiry should be made into the conduct of the Agent, Sri Jagat Ram Sharma, and the conduct of the Manager, Sri Kumud Ranjan Dutt. Later on opposite party no. 1 in Miscellaneous Judicial Case No. 180 of 1957, the Commissioner of Chota Nagpur Division, informed the Manager and the Agent that he was anpointed by the Central Government to hold an inquiry into their conduct under Regulation 48 of the Indian Coal Mines Regulations, 1926. In Miscellaneous Judicial Cases Nos. 180 and 181 of 1957 the Manager and the Agent, Sri Kumud Rajan Dutt and Sri Jagat Ram Sharma, respectively, have applied for grant of a writ under Article 226 of the Constitution, commanding opposite party No. 1, Commissioner of Chota Nagpur Division, not to hold the inquiry under Regulation 48 of the Coal Mines Regulations, 1926.

(3.) On the 23rd of May, 1956, a complaint was filed by the Regional Inspector of Mines at the instance of the Chief Inspector of Mines against Lala Karam Chand Thapar, Director of Bhowra-Kankanee Collieries Limited, Sri V. Mehta Director of Karam Chand Thapar & Brothers (Private) Limited, the Manager, Sri Kumud Ranjan Dutt, and the Agent, Sri Jagat Ram Sharma, for violation of Regulations 121, 122 (1), 122 (2), 70 (1) 70 (2), 70 (3) and other Regulations ot the Indian Coal Mines Regulations, 1926. On the same date the sub-divisional Magistrate of Purulia took cognizance of the case and summoned Lala Karam Chand Thaper, Sri Jagat Ram Sharma, Sri Kumud Ranjan Dutt and others, and the criminal case was numbered as C-163 of 1956.