Sardar Dilshar Singh v. the Labour Commissioner and Anr.

This appeal by special leave arises from an order dated October 24, 1980 passed by the Division Bench of Delhi High Court. The undisputed facts are that the appellant is a partner of Dr. Sahib Singh and Sons. While doing business in Delhi, the workmen had an adjudication in the Labour Court under s.33-C(2) of the Industrial disputes Act, 1947, for recovery of arrears of salary, bonus etc. The Labour Court had certified under s.33-C(l) that a sum of Rs. 62, 843.50 was due to them and issued a certificate to the District Collector to have it recovered from the partnership firm as arrears of land revenue. It is not disputed before us that on July 8, 1980, the bailiff of the Collector had gone to the appellant G and sought to attach his movable properties. He then assured the bailiff that he would appear before the Collector but admittedly he never turned up. On July 20, 1980 the bailiff came with a warrant of arrest against the appellant. Calling the order of arrest in question, a writ petition came to be filed but was dismissed. Thus this appeal by special leave. H 576 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (1995] SUPP. 3 S.C.R. It is contended by learned counsel for the appellant that the proce­ dure prescribed in ss.67 and 69 of the Punjab Land Revenue Act, 1887 (Punjab Act No. 17 of 1987) is unfair, improper and vitiated Articles 21 and 14 of the Constitution. He urged that without prior notice of arrest a defaulter cannot be arrested. Neither Section 67 nor Section 69 prescribes such a procedure. Therefore, it will be unjust, oppressive and arbitrary exercise of power. We do not find any substance in the contention. Section 67 enumerates various modes in which the arrears of land revenue could be recovered from any person or more in the manner prescribed thereunder. One of the clause, which is clause (b) envisages that recovery could be effected is by arrest and detention of his person. Section 69 provides the procedure in that behalf which reads as follows : "69. Arrest and detention of defaulter - (1) At any time after an arrear of land-revenue has accrued a Revenue- Officer may issue a warrant directing an officer named therein to arrest the defaulter and bring him before the revenue Officer. (2) When the defaulter is brought before the Revenue Officer, the Revenue officer may cause him to be taken before the Collector, or may keep him under personal restraint for a period not exceed­ ing ten days and then, if the arrear is still unpaid, cause him to be taken before the Collector. (3) When the defaulter is brought before the Collector, the Col­ lector may issue an order to the officer in charge of the civil jail of the district, directing him to confine the defaulter in the jail for such period and not exceeding one month from the date of the order, as the Collector thinks fit. ( 4) The process of arrest and detention shall not be executed against a defaulter who is a female, a minor, a lunatic or an idiot." A reading therefore clearly indicates that when arrears of land revenue has accrued the Revenue Officer may issue warrant directing the officer named therein to arrest the defaulter and bring him before the Revenue Officer, who is empowered to keep the defaulter under personal restraint for a period not exceeding 10 days. Even then, if arrears are not H paid, cause him to be taken before the Collector. Sub-section (3) gives S.D. SINGH v. LABOUR COMMNR. 577 power to the Collector to take further action thereon. When the defaulter A has been brought before him, the Act envisages that collector may issue an order to the officer in charge of the civil jail of the district and direct the defaulter to be confined in the jail for a period not exceeding one month from the date of the order, as the Collector thinks fit. It is seen that a procedure has laid down mentioning the mode in B which recovery could be effected. The Act does not contemplate issuance of any prior notice before warrant of arrest is issued. When the movable properties were sought to be attached, the appellant himself had under­ taken to appear before the Collector but he did not turn up. Rather he avoided the process. Therefore, the question whether prior notice should C be given has become redundant. The procedure of issuance of prior notice tends to frustrate the effectivity of clause (b) of s.67 of the Act and could aid as a lever to avoid process of recovery by arrest and detention. The appeal is accordingly dismissed. No costs. R.P. Appeal dismissed. D