Factories Act, 1948
101. Exemption of occupier or manager from liability in
certain cases
Where the occupier or manager of a factory is charged with an
offence punishable under this Act, he shall be entitled, upon complaint duly
made by him and on giving to the prosecutor not less than three clear days
notice in writing of his intention so to do, to have any other person whom he
charges as the actual offender brought before the court at the time appointed
for hearing the charge; and if, after the commission of the offence has been
proved, the occupier or manager of the factory, as the case may be, proves to
the satisfaction of the court-
(a) that he has used due diligence to enforce the execution of
this Act, and
(b) that the said other person committed the offence in question
without his knowledge, consent or connivance, that other person shall be
convicted of the offence and shall be liable to the like punishment as if he
were the occupier or manager of the factory, and the occupier or manager, as
the case may be, shall be discharged from any liability under this Act in
respect of such offence:
PROVIDED that in seeking to prove as aforesaid, the
occupier or manager of the factory, as the case may be, may be examined on
oath, and his evidence and that of any witness whom he calls in his support
shall be subject to cross-examination on behalf of the person he charges as the
actual offender and by the prosecutor:
PROVIDED FURTHER that, if the person charged as the actual
offender by the occupier or manager cannot be brought before the Court at the
time appointed for hearing the charge, the Court shall adjourn the hearing from
time to time for a period not exceeding three months and if by the end of the
said period the person charged as the actual offender cannot still be brought
before the Court, the Court shall proceed to hear the charge against the
occupier or manager and shall, if the offence be proved, convict the occupier
or manager.