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Synopsis

The Delhi High Court recently said that it is saddening that the factories forcing child labor are working right under the nose of the Delhi Government including the police officers who are aware of these factories being run, and yet no steps are being taken by the State to curb this menace.

A bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Subramonium Prasad said, "For their greed for money and profit, unscrupulous factory owners employ children as they have to be paid less than minimum wages and, driven out of extreme poverty these children are forced to work at these places instead of seeking education in order to earn bread for their families."

The bench was hearing a plea filed by NGO Bachpan Bachao Andolan highlighting the plight of children working in factories that are illegally housed in extremely small units stuffed with inflammable materials.

The plea  sought direction to the State Government to conduct an inquiry into the illegal factories at Anaz Mandi, Sadar Bazar, so that persons who are running these factories can be booked under the concerned legislation. Directions were also sought for the protection and rehabilitation of the children who are working in these units.

The plea pointed out that on December 8, 2019, a massive fire ripped through a building in Anaj Mandi, Sadar Bazar, which resulted in the death of 43 persons, including 12 children between the age group of 12 to 18 years.

The NGO identified 183 locations where children are working. Given the above, Court directed the Government to search the locations, conduct an investigation and file a Status Report on the action taken by them before the next date of hearing.

Additionally, the Court directed the Women and Child Welfare Department and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi to form a committee in each district to inspect the premises where units employing child labor are being run and file a status report in this regard.

On the issue of recent deaths, the High Court directed the Delhi Government to immediately release Rs. 5 lakhs for each of the victims who lost their lives as an ex-gratia interim payment.

The Court stressed, "Any lapse on the part of the Government in not paying the compensation would be viewed very seriously by this Court as willful disobedience of the Orders of this Court."

Case Title: Bachpan Bachao Andola Vs. GNCTD & Ors.