Section 6 in The Tamil Nadu Compulsory Labour Act, 1858
6. [ Liability of persons refusing to contribute labour to the maintenance of irrigation and drainage works. [Substituted for the original section by section 2 of the Tamil Nadu Compulsory Labour (Amendment) Act, 1956 (Tamil Nadu Act VIII of 1956). This section as substituted by the said Act in so far as it related to the rest of this State was extended to the added territories by section 4 of, and the Second Schedule to the Tamil Nadu (Added Territories) Extension of Laws Act. 1962 (Tamil Nadu Act 14 of 1962).]
(1)Every person owning lands served by any irrigation or drainage work or any work connected therewith shall, whenever required by public notice by the head of the village under the orders of the Tahsildar or other superior Revenue Officer contribute labour for repairing or properly maintaining such irrigation or drainage work or for repairing or properly maintaining any work connected with such irrigation or drainage work.(2)Every public notice given under sub-section (1) shall be in writing over the signature of the head of the village, shall contain the names of the persons bound to contribute the labour together with such other particulars as may be necessary to identify them, and the period or periods during which the labour should be contributed, and shall be widely made known in the village by affixing copies thereof in conspicuous public places within the village, or by publishing the same by beat of drum and by any other means that the head of the village may think fit. Every such notice shall also be published by affixture in the notice board of the offices of the Tahsildar or other Revenue Officer under whose orders the notice was given.(3)Any person required to contribute labour in pursuance of a notice given under sub-section (1) may, in lieu of such labour, pay such sum and within such time as may be specified in that behalf by a general or special order of the Tahsildar or other Revenue Officer referred to in sub-section (1). The amount so payable shall, in case of dispute, be determined summarily by the Collector.(4)If any person who is bound to contribute labour in pursuance of a notice given under sub-section (1) neglects or refuses to contribute labour during the period specified in that notice or fails to pay the value of the labour under subsection (3), it shall be lawful for the head of the village under the orders of the Tahsildar or other Revenue Officer referred to in sub-section (1) to proceed at once to execute the work by employing some other person and all the expenses incurred in respect thereof together with a sum equal to the value of the labour not contributed shall be borne by the person so neglecting or refusing to contribute or failing to pay.(5)Where there are a number of persons liable to pay under the preceding sub-section, the Tahsildar or other Revenue Officer under whose orders the notice was given under sub-section (1) shall, after such enquiry as he may deem necessary, apportion such expenses among the persons who are, as aforesaid, liable to bear the same and also determine the value of the labour not contributed. Such liability shall, as far as practicable, be appropriated among such persons in proportion to the extent of the lands actually served by the irrigation or drainage work or other work in connection with which the contribution of labour was required.(6)All sums due under this section shall be payable on demand; and, on non-payment, the same may be recovered by means by which arrears of land revenue are recoverable.]
