Today, On 15th July, The Delhi High Court called for immediate and urgent measures from the Delhi government to address a plea concerning the rescue of child labourers. The plea highlights the critical need for prompt intervention to protect vulnerable children.
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court demanded a response from the city’s government regarding a petition seeking a directive to conduct raids and rescue over 1,000 minors allegedly trafficked from various parts of India and forced to work as bonded laborers in Delhi.
The bench, comprising Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela, issued notices to the Delhi government, the Department of Revenue, the Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights, and the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights.
The matter scheduled for a hearing on July 18.
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The petitioner, Rohtas, who claims to support the NGO ‘Sahyog Care For You,’ filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL). In the PIL, Rohtas asserts that he has sent 18 complaints to authorities, urging them to raid various properties in Delhi and rescue 245 children and 772 adolescents working as bonded laborers. These minors reportedly forced to work in extremely unsafe and unhygienic conditions for 12-13 hours daily.
According to the plea, most of these children have been trafficked, live with their employers, and subjected to hazardous working conditions that severely impact their health and physical development.
During the hearing, Delhi government’s standing counsel (Civil) Santosh Kumar Tripathi argued that the petitioner had not provided specific addresses of the properties where the child laborers are allegedly working, making it difficult for authorities to take action.
In response to the petitioner’s counsel, who mentioned only receiving communication for a meeting from three Sub Divisional Magistrates (SDMs), Tripathi assured that he would arrange a meeting with the SDM (headquarters) on the same day.
The bench emphasized,
“This court has no doubt that the administration will take action forthwith and will keep in mind previous judgments of the court on the issue.”
The PIL highlights that over two months have passed since the initial complaints sent to the concerned authorities.
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Despite multiple reminders to eight district magistrates and 16 SDMs in Delhi, no action has been taken by the administration. The law mandates that rescues in such cases should be conducted within 24 to 48 hours.
The petition states,
“Given the severity of the child bonded labour circumstances and the strong authority bestowed upon the respondents, they were duty-bound to take urgent action for the identification, rescue, release, and rehabilitation of the victims and to initiate appropriate prosecution or legal actions against the perpetrators involved in the crime.”
The petitioner seeks a court directive to ensure that all complaints regarding child labour, bonded labour, or trafficking are investigated within 24 to 48 hours of receipt.