Hari Kriahna Budhia @ H. K. Budhiya v. State of Jharkhand
2023-05-08
SANJAY KUMAR DWIVEDI
body2023
DigiLaw.ai
JUDGMENT : SANJAY KUMAR DWIVEDI, J. 1. Heard Mr. Amitabh the learned counsel for the petitioner and Mr. V. Pradhan the learned State counsel. 2. This petition has been filed for quashing the entire criminal proceeding in connection with No. G-80/13 as well as order taking cognizance dated 16.7.2013, pending in the court of learned Sub Divisional Judicial Magistrate, Hazaribagh. 3. The complaint case has been filed alleging therein that on 23.4.2013 at 11.30 p.m. an accident took place in which one Bishu Mahto died. After completion his shift while returning to house, he was crossing Magnetic Over Head Crane then suddenly hot pig iron fell down on his chest and he died on spot. It is alleged that occupier and manager had failed to ensure provisions for maintenance of plant and system of work in the factory thereby violating section 7-A(2)(c) & (d) of Factories Act 1948 and Rules 55-A (2) of the Jharkhand Factories Rules, 1950. 4. Mr. Amitabh the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submits that the petitioners are the occupier and manager of Bihar Foundry and Casting Limited and they have been made accused in this petition. He submits that accident took place in the factory premises as one hot pig iron fell down on the chest of contract labourer namely Bishnu Mahto from the magnetic crane and he died on the spot. He submits that is why by way of making allegation that proper safety measure was not provided by the company thus, these petitioners have been made accused for violating the said provisions under the said rules of the Factories Rules. He further submits that there is no averment that these petitioners are responsible for such negligence and the company is not made the party. He submits that in absence of the company being made the party vicarious liability cannot be fastened against these petitioners who are the officials of the company. He submits that Rupees Four Lacs has been paid to the family members of the deceased. He also draws the attention of this Court towards Sections 97 and 111 of the Factories Act and by way of referring aforesaid sections, he submits that the liability and inquiry was required to be looked into in the light of Sections 97 and 111 of the Factories Act. 5.
He also draws the attention of this Court towards Sections 97 and 111 of the Factories Act and by way of referring aforesaid sections, he submits that the liability and inquiry was required to be looked into in the light of Sections 97 and 111 of the Factories Act. 5. Learned counsel appearing for the petitioners relied upon the judgments rendered in the case of Sarav Investment and Financial Consultancy (P) Ltd. vs. Lloyds Register of Shipping Indian Office Staff Provident Fund, (2007) 14 SCC 753 and also in the case of Visitor AMU and Others vs. K.S. Misra, (2007) 8 SCC 593 , wherein in Para-13, the Hon’ble Supreme Court has held as follows: “13. The problem can be looked from another angle. If the view taken by the High Court that the provision is directory is accepted as correct, it would in effect amount to making the provisions of sub-clause (c) of Statute 61(6)(iv) otiose. In such a case the consequences provided therein that if no option is exercised within the prescribed time limit, the employee shall be deemed to have opted for the retention of the benefits already received by him would never come into play. It is well settled principle of interpretation of statute that it is incumbent upon the Court to avoid a construction, if reasonably permissible on the language, which will render a part of the statute devoid of any meaning or application. The Courts always presume that the Legislature inserted every part thereof for a purpose and the legislative intent is that every part of the statute should have effect. The legislature is deemed not to waste its words or to say anything in vain and a construction which attributes redundancy to the Legislature will not be accepted except for compelling reasons. It is not a sound principle of construction to brush aside words in a statute as being inapposite surplusage, if they can have appropriate application in circumstances conceivably within the contemplation of the staute. [See Principles of Statutory Interpretation by Justice G.P. Singh Ninth Edition Page 68].” 6. The learned counsel for the respondent State submits that violation of the provisions have been found as the safety was not provided and in that background, the complaint case has been filed and the learned court has rightly been taken cognizance under section 92 of the Factories Act, 1948. 7.
The learned counsel for the respondent State submits that violation of the provisions have been found as the safety was not provided and in that background, the complaint case has been filed and the learned court has rightly been taken cognizance under section 92 of the Factories Act, 1948. 7. In view of the above submission of the learned counsel appearing for the parties the Court has gone through the materials on record and finds that admittedly the said accident has been taken place within the premises and one hot pig iron fell on the body of the said labourer and he died on the spot. 8. Rule 55(A)(2) of the Bihar (Now Jharkhand) Factories Rules, 1950 reads as follows: “55A. General safety of buildings, structures, plants, machinery, etc. (1) No building, wall, chimney, bridge, tunnel, drain, road gallery, passage, walkway or gageway, ladder, stair-case, ramp floor, platform, staging, scaffolding or any other structure of bricks, masonary, cement, concrete, steel or any other material whether of a permanent or temporary character shall be constructed, situated, maintained or allowed to remain or be used in a factory and no machine, plant, equipment including electric lines, wiring, fitting and apparatus [apparatus as defined in clause (c) of rule 2 of the Indian Electricity Rules, 1956 made under the Indian Electricity Act, 1910] shall be constructed, provided, situated, maintained or allowed to be used or operated in a factory, in such manner as may, or is likely to, cause any accident or any bodily injury. (2) No process or work shall be carried on in any factory and no person shall be allowed to work on any process or any machinery, plant or equipment or in any part of a factory or in any other work in such manner as may, or is likely to cause any accident or any bodily injury. (3) No materials, articles or equipments shall be kept stacked or stored in such manner as may or is likely to cause any accident or any bodily injury.” 9. On perusal of the said rule it is crystal clear that the process of any work, which was permitted to be carried out in a manner as may, or is likely to, cause any accident or any bodily injury. The duty of the Inspector has been disclosed in sub-Section-9 read with Section 88 of the Factories Act. 10.
On perusal of the said rule it is crystal clear that the process of any work, which was permitted to be carried out in a manner as may, or is likely to, cause any accident or any bodily injury. The duty of the Inspector has been disclosed in sub-Section-9 read with Section 88 of the Factories Act. 10. In the case in hand, the Inspector of Factories alleged that the occurrence took place due to fall of hot iron pig on the body of the said labourer. Sections 97 and 111 of the Factories Act also provides about the offence by the workers and obligations of the workers, which are quoted hereunder: “97. Offences by workers: (1) Subject to the provisions of section 111, if any worker employed in a factory contravenes any provision of this Act or any rules or orders made thereunder, imposing any duty or liability on workers, he shall be punishable with fine which may extend to [five hundred rupees]. (2) Where a worker is convicted of an offence punishable under sub-section (1) the occupier or manager of the factory shall not be deemed to be guilty of an offence in respect of that contravention, unless it is proved that he failed to take all reasonable measures for its prevention. 111. Obligations of workers: (1) No worker in a factory: (a) shall wilfully interfere with or misuse any appliance, convenience or other thing provided in a factory for the purposes of securing the health, safety or welfare of the workers therein. (b) shall wilfully and without reasonable cause do anything likely to endanger himself or others. (c) shall wilfully neglect to make use of any appliance or other thing provided in the factory for the purposes of securing the health or safety of the workers therein. (2) If any worker employed in a factory contravenes any of the provisions of this section or of any rule or order made thereunder, he shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three months, or with fine which may extend to one hundred rupees, or with both.” 11.
(2) If any worker employed in a factory contravenes any of the provisions of this section or of any rule or order made thereunder, he shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three months, or with fine which may extend to one hundred rupees, or with both.” 11. From a bare reading of these two provisions of the Factories Act, it is crystal clear that the scheme of the Factories Act is there, at the first instance the occupier and Manager must be prosecuted in terms of Section 92 of the Act, however, they may seek exemption under Section 101 of the said Act. Such interpretation would render the provisions of Sections 97 and 111 of the Act invalid. It is well settled principle of interpretation of the statute that it is incumbent upon the Court to avoid a construction, if reasonably permissible on the language, which will render a part of the statute devoid of any meaning or application, which has been considered by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of Visitors AMU and Others (Supra). 12. There is no specific violation of any provision of the Act or the Rules in the complaint and in absence of such illegal act or omission to fasten the Occupier and Manager on the strength of the alleged contravention of the general duties would be a dangerous proposition of law. 13. On perusal of the complaint, it transpires that there is no material on record to prima facie suggest that the Occupier or Manager are in any manner responsible for the unfortunate accident. Sections 97 and 111 was not looked into by the Inspector, as admitted in the complaint itself that the workman concern was passing through. No case is made out against the petitioners in terms of the Factories Act as mens rea is not the necessity in invoking the provisions of Factories Act. Further, Sections 97 and 111 have been ignored by the Inspector of the Factories while submitting the report and at the time of filing the complaint. 14. In view of the above facts and the reasons and analysis, entire criminal proceeding in connection with No. G-80/13 as well as order taking cognizance dated 16.7.2013, pending in the court of learned Sub Divisional Judicial Magistrate, Hazaribagh is quashed. 15. Cr. M.P. No. 2625 of 2013 stands allowed and disposed of. 16.
14. In view of the above facts and the reasons and analysis, entire criminal proceeding in connection with No. G-80/13 as well as order taking cognizance dated 16.7.2013, pending in the court of learned Sub Divisional Judicial Magistrate, Hazaribagh is quashed. 15. Cr. M.P. No. 2625 of 2013 stands allowed and disposed of. 16. Pending petition if any also stands disposed of.