law: Bonded Labor System (Abolition) Act, 1976 
  12. DUTY OF DISTRICT MAGISTRATE AND OFFICERS
  
  AUTHORISED BY HIM . – 
  It shall be the duty of every District 
  
  Magistrate and every officer specified by him under Section 10 to inquire 
  
  whether, after the commencement of this Act, any bonded labor system or any 
  
  other form of forced labor is being enforced by, or on behalf of, any person 
  
  resident within the local limits of his jurisdiction and if, as a result of such 
  
  inquiry, any person is found to be enforcing the bonded labor system or any 
  
  other system of forced labor, he shall forthwith take such action as may be 
  
  necessary to eradicate of such forced labor.
  Comment:  whenever it is shown that a laborer is
  
  made to provide forced labor, the Court would raise a presumption that he is
  
  required to do so in consideration of an advance or other economic
  
  consideration received by him and he is therefore a bonded laborer. This presumption
  
  may be rebutted by the employer and also by the State Government if it so
  
  chooses but unless and until satisfactory material is produced for rebutting
  
  this presumption, the Court must proceed on the basis that the laborer is a
  
  bonded laborer entitled to the benefit of the provisions of the Act. Bandhua  Mukti Morcha , Petitioner v. Union
  
  of India and others, Respondents. AIR 1984 SUPREME COURT 80