Is property of bonded labour to be freed from mortgage?

Asked by: Ms. Ettie Murphy  |  Last update: March 10, 2026
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Yes, under laws like India's Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976, any property of a bonded labourer under mortgage or encumbrance related to bonded debt automatically becomes free and discharged from that debt and its associated mortgage, with the creditor losing the right to claim it or the debt, and the labourer entitled to the property's return and potential compensation for delayed restoration.

Are a legally released bonded labourer?

Under the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976 identification, release and rehabilitation of freed bonded labour is the direct responsibility of the concerned States/Union Territories. Under the Act, the District Magistrates and Sub-Divisional Magistrates have been entrusted with certain duties/responsibilities.

What is the punishment for bonded labour?

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.

In which year was really bonded labour abolished?

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).

What are the salient features of the bonded labour Abolition Act?

It made the practice of bondage a cognizable offence punishable by law. labour system stood abolished and every bonded labourers stood freed and discharged free from any obligation to render bonded labour. virtue of which a person was required to render any service as bonded labour was rendered void.

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36 related questions found

Is liability to repay bonded debt to stand extinguished?

(1) On the commencement of this Act, every obligation of a bonded laborer to repay any bonded debt, or such part of any bonded debt unsatisfied immediately before such commencement, shall be deemed to have been extinguished.

What is the vetti chakiri act?

Vetti-chakiri

A form of forced labour in which peasants and members of lower castes were required to work for free existed in India before independence. This form of labour was known by several names, including veth, vethi, vetti-chakiri and begar .

What is Section 18 of the bonded labour Act?

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 dependant of such person is required to render any service under the bonded labour system, shall be punishable with ...

What is the bonded labour Abolition Act 1992?

– Whoever, after the commencement of this Act compels any person to render any bonded labour shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than two years nor more than five years, or with fine which shall not be less than fifty thousand rupees, or with both.

What are the case laws related to bonded labour?

Some of the major case laws related to the issue of bonded labour are: Dharambir v State (1979, where the Supreme Court held that prisoners are entitled to fair wages while doing work in the jails. The court held that free labour by prisoners is violative of Article 23 of the Constitution.

Is forced bonded labour not to be evicted from homestead?

Any property of a bonded labourer under mortgage, charge, lien or any other encumbrance, if related to public debt shall stand freed and discharged from such mortgage. Freed bonded labourer shall not be evicted from the homestead land. Despite the statutory prohibition, bonded labour is widely practiced.

What is Section 13 of the bonded labour Act?

As per Section 13 of the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976, the State Government has to constitute Vigilance Committee in each district and each Sub-Division, as it may think fit, to advise the District Magistrate or any officer authorized by him for proper implementation of the Act.

What is rehabilitation for bonded laborers?

- Release: Extracting people from exploitation within the bonded labour system. - Rehabilitation: Integrating rescued labourers back into mainstream society, and giving them the means necessary for them to prosper in their relocation.

What is Section 7 of the bonded labour Act?

(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 ...

What is article 23 and 24?

Right against exploitation. (Articles 23, 24) Article 23. Prohibition of traffic in human being and forced labour. (1) Traffic in human beings and begar and other similar forms of forced labour are prohibited and any contravention of this provision shall be an offence punishable in accordance with law.

What is Section 12 of the bonded labour Act?

Description. (f) to defend any suit instituted against a freed bonded labourer or a member 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.

What are the 5 purposes of the Labour Relations Act?

To change the law governing labour relations and, for that purpose— to give effect to section 23 of the Constitution; to regulate the organisational rights of trade unions; to promote and facilitate collective bargaining at the workplace and at sectoral level; to regulate the right to strike and the recourse to lock- ...

What is Section 19 of the bonded labour Act?

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 ...

What is Section 20 of the bonded labour Act?

Section 20 of BLSA : Section 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.

What is Section 19 of the Labour Relations Act?

In terms of section 19 of the Labour Relations Act, such a union only ob- tains the rights of access to the workplace and the deduction of subscriptions of its members. To obtain other organisational rights, a union should act in terms of section 21 and 22 of the LRA.

What is section 18 offence?

Causing grievous bodily harm with intent to do grievous bodily harm / Wounding with intent to do GBH. Offences against the Person Act 1861, s.18. Effective from 1 July 2021. Triable only on indictment. Maximum: Life imprisonment.

What is unfree labor?

Unfree labor refers to work that individuals are compelled to perform against their will. This type of labor often occurs under severe threats, such as the risk of poverty, imprisonment, or violence directed at the workers or their families. Common forms of unfree labor include forced labor, slavery, and bonded labor.

What is the word for forced labour?

Modern slavery is an umbrella term, which encompasses several types of exploitation, including forced labour, human trafficking and forced marriage.

What is the ILO's role in combating forced labor?

Through partnerships, advocacy, and technical assistance, the ILO promotes sustainable, rights-based solutions to eliminate forced labour and trafficking in persons. Forced labour remains one of the most severe human rights violations in the world of work, affecting an estimated 28 million people globally.