SESSIONS COURT AWARDS LIFE SENTENCE TO THE LABOUR OFFICER JAGDISH THAKOR AND THREE OTHERS OF LUBI ELECTRICALS FOR KILLING A WORKER AGITATING FOR MINIMUM WAGE.
The additional Sessions Judge Shri R.H. sharma convicted the labour officer Shri Jagdish Babubhai Thakor , his son Mukesh Jagdish Thakor, Shri Mahipal Chauhan, security guard and Rajubhai Madrasi for offences punishable under section 302 and sentenced them to suffer rigorous imprssonment for life. They were also ordered to pay the fine of Rs.35,000 each and further convicted the Labour Officer Shri Jagdish Thakor and his son Mukesh Thakor and directed to pay Rs.3 lacs towards compensation to the wife and children of the deceased Shri M.B. Rathod.
The additional Sessions Judge heavily came down on the laxity shown by the investigating officers during investigation and ordered the director General of Police to take suitable actions against the delinquent investigating officers who had intentionally shown laxity during investigation . It was specifically held by the learned judge that the laxity on the part of the police officers was for causing inconsistency in the evidence to help the accused. It was also held that the police had permitted the accused persons to make their guns disappear. The court also held that the prosecuting agency also failed to perform their legal duty.
The additional sessions judge lamented that the present case pushed the time to the fifteenth century where the labourers were considered as slaves and were likely to be eliminated in case they raised their voice for their rights. All that the workers demanded was the minimum wages for their livelihood which was obviously not liked by the management of Lubi Electricals Company. In the facts of the case, the accused therefore did not deserve any leniency. Therefore, had to suffer rigorous imprisonment for life. The cross complaint against 29 workmen under section 307 of I.P.C was dismissed and all the workmen were exonerated of the charges leveled against them.
Shri N.N. Prajapati, Asistant Public Prosecutor appeared for the State whereas Shri Hiralal Gupta appeared along with the prosecution on behalf of the worker.
