Recovery of money due from landowners

(1) Where any money is due to an agricultural worker from a landowner under a settlement referred to in sub-section (2) of section 22, or an award under sub-section (5) of that section or under clause (b) of sub-section (1) of section 25 or an award as modified by the Government under sub-section (2) of section 26, the agricultural worker himself or any other person authorised by him in writing in that behalf or, in the case of the death of the agricultural worker, his assignees or heirs may without prejudice to any other mode of recovery make an application to the District Collector for the recovery of the money due to him and if the District Collector is satisfied that any money is so due, he shall proceed to recover the same as if it were an arrear of public revenue due on land: Provided that every such application shall be made within one year from the date on which the money became due to the agricultural worker from the landowner: Provided further that any such application may be entertained after the expiry of the said period of one year if the District Collector is satisfied that the applicant had sufficient cause for not making the application within the said period. (2) Any amount due from a landowner as contribution to the Fund and any other amount due from a landowner under this Act or the Scheme may if the amount is in arrear, be recovered as if it were an arrear of public revenue due on land. No act or proceeding of the Board shall be deemed to be invalid by reason merely of any vacancy in or any defect in the constitution of the Board.