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1 - 5 of 5 (0.19 seconds)S. Vasudevan And Ors. vs S.D. Mital And Ors. on 18 January, 1961
19. It is very difficult to formulate a precise definition of the word 'begar', but there can be no doubt that it is a form of forced labour under which a person is compelled to work without receiving any remuneration. Molesworth describes 'begar' as "labour or service exacted by a government or person in power without giving remuneration for it." Wilson's Glossary of Judicial and Revenue Terms gives the following meaning of the word 'begar': "a forced labourer, one pressed to carry burthens for individuals or the public. Under the old system, when pressed for public service, no pay was given. The Begari, though still liable to be pressed for public objects, now receives pay: Forced labour for private service is prohibited." Begar may therefore be loosely described as labour or service which a person is forced to give without receiving any remuneration for it. That was the meaning of the word 'begar' accepted by a Division Bench of the Bombay High Court in S. Vasudevan v. S.D. Mital: AIR 1962 Bom 53. 'Begar' is thus clearly a form of forced labour. Now it is not merely 'begar' which is unconstitutionally (sic) prohibited by Article 23 but also all other similar forms of forced labour. This Article strikes at forced labour in whatever form it may manifest itself, because it is violative of human dignity and is contrary to basic human values
People'S Union For Democratic Rights ... vs Union Of India & Others on 18 September, 1982
In People's Union for Democratic Rights v. Union of India, (1982) 3 SCC 235 : AIR 1982 SC 1473, it has been observed that Article 23 of the Constitution of India protects individual not only against State but against private citizens and that Begar means labour or servive which a person is forced to give without receiving any remuneration or which is less than minimum wages. It amounts to violation of fundamental enshrined under Articles 17, 23 and 24 of the Constitution. It has further been laid down that it is the Constitutional obligation of the State to take necessary steps to stop such violation and ensuring observation of the fundamental right by private individuals who are transgressing the same.
Article 17 in Constitution of India [Constitution]
Article 24 in Constitution of India [Constitution]
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