The Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976 – All Sections

An Act to provide for the abolition of bonded labour system with a view to preventing the economic and physical exploitation of the weaker sections of the people and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

The Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976 has 27 sections in 7 chapters, amended 3 times. Each link below opens the official text of that section. Official PDF on India Code.

    Chapter I: PRELIMINARY

    Chapter II: ABOLITION OF BONDED LABOUR SYSTEM

    • Section 4 – Abolition of bonded labour system
    • Section 5 – Agreement, custom, etc., to be void

    Chapter III: EXTINGUISHMENTS OF LIABILITY TO REPAY BONDED DEBT

    • Section 6 – Liability to repay bonded debt to stand extinguished
    • Section 7 – Property of bonded labourer to be freed from mortgage, etc
    • Section 8 – Freed bonded labourer not to be evicted from homestead, etc
    • Section 9 – Creditor not to accept payment against extinguished debt

    Chapter IV: IMPLEMENTING AUTHORITIES

    • Section 10 – Authorities who may be specified for implementing the provisions of this Act
    • Section 11 – Duty of District Magistrate and other officers to ensure credit
    • Section 12 – Duty of District Magistrate and officers authorized by him

    Chapter V: VIGILANCE COMMITTEES

    • Section 13 – Vigilance Committees
    • Section 14 – Functions of Vigilance Committees.- (1) The functions of each Vigilance Committee shall be,
    • Section 15 – Burden of proof

    Chapter VI: OFFENCES AND PROCEDURE FOR TRIAL

    • Section 16 – Punishment for enforcement of bonded labour
    • Section 17 – Punishment for advancement of bonded debt
    • Section 18 – Punishment for extracting bonded labour under the bonded labour system
    • Section 19 – Punishment for omission or failure to restore possession of property to bonded labourers
    • Section 20 – Abetment to be an offence
    • Section 21 – Offences to be tried by Executive Magistrates
    • Section 22 – Cognizance of offences.- Every offence under this Act shall be cognizable and bail able
    • Section 23 – Offences by companies

    Chapter VII: MISCELLANEOUS

    • Section 24 – Protection of action taken in good faith
    • Section 25 – Jurisdiction of civil courts barred
    • Section 26 – Power to make rules
    • Section 27 – Repeal and saving.- (1) The Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Ordinance, 1975 (Ord. 17 of 1975) is hereby repealed

    Related posts:

    1. Section 2 of the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976 – Definitions
    2. Section 6 of the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976 – Liability to repay bonded debt to stand extinguished
    3. Section 14 of the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976 – Functions of Vigilance Committees.- (1) The functions of each Vigilance Committee shall be,
    4. Section 4 of the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976 – Abolition of bonded labour system