PIL alleges inaction to prevent bonded labour; High Court seeks Centre, Delhi government reply 

NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court today sought the response of the Centre, AAP government and police on a plea alleging inaction on their part in preventing bonded labour, especially of children, and in implementation of schemes meant for rehabilitation of victims of this practice.

Terming as serious the grievances raised in the PIL, a bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar issued notice to the Ministry of Labour, Delhi Government, Commissioner of Police, National Human Rights Commission, Delhi State Legal Services Authority and various other authorities, asking them to reply by April 24.

The court directed the police to file a report on cases of last five years in which it has lodged FIRs with regard to bonded labour, especially of child victims, and the status of each case.

The Delhi government and the Centre were directed to file status reports setting out all the available schemes regarding child labourers and their implementation.

The directions from the court came on the PIL filed by social activist Nirmal Gorana who has claimed that despite rescue of children engaged as bonded labourers and a FIR being lodged on August 17 last year, no action has been taken till date by the authorities.

Apart from that, the plea, filed through advocate Aditi Gupta, also claimed non-enforcement of the Bonded Labour Rehabilitation Scheme 2016 as no compensation has been released till date to the victims who were rescued last year.

The petition has alleged that despite knowing the identity of persons accused of commission of such serious offences, the authorities have not moved a step towards completion of investigation, filing of charge sheet and arresting those involved.