198 child labourers rescued in past one month: Delhi govt to high court
2 Nov 2013 5:08 AM IST
Appearing for the Delhi government, standing counsel Pawan Sharma filed a progress report on abolition of child labour before the bench of chief justice N V Ramana and justice Manmohan and said the chief secretary recently held a meeting with different departments to prevent employment of children.
Seeking exemption from personal appearance of chief secretary and labour commissioner, the lawyer said the labour department has informed that in past one month, 198 children were rescued from various places.
On the government’s report, senior advocate H S Phoolka, counsel for petitioner NGO Bachpan Bachao Andolan, argued that if the senior most officer of the government holds a meeting at least once in a month, the problem will be solved to a great extent.
To his submission, the bench asked the lawyer to place on record his suggestions saying ‘the bench can direct the concerned departments to put in place which can work without court’s interference.’
The court also expressed its satisfaction over the progress report and discharged the officers from their personal appearance on the next date of hearing of the plea.
Earlier, refusing to withdraw its previous order summoning the officers over alleged in-action to rescue child labourers, the bench had asked the government to furnish the progress report by Thursday.
The NGO’s lawyer said the city government had, in coordination with other departments, formulated Delhi Action Plan for total abolition of child labour in 2009 but it has not been implemented as yet.
Despite repeated orders from the court to rescue at least 500 children per month for complete eradication of child labour, government data shows that 24,000 children are yet to be rescued, the lawyer said.
Seeking exemption from personal appearance of chief secretary and labour commissioner, the lawyer said the labour department has informed that in past one month, 198 children were rescued from various places.
On the government’s report, senior advocate H S Phoolka, counsel for petitioner NGO Bachpan Bachao Andolan, argued that if the senior most officer of the government holds a meeting at least once in a month, the problem will be solved to a great extent.
To his submission, the bench asked the lawyer to place on record his suggestions saying ‘the bench can direct the concerned departments to put in place which can work without court’s interference.’
The court also expressed its satisfaction over the progress report and discharged the officers from their personal appearance on the next date of hearing of the plea.
Earlier, refusing to withdraw its previous order summoning the officers over alleged in-action to rescue child labourers, the bench had asked the government to furnish the progress report by Thursday.
The NGO’s lawyer said the city government had, in coordination with other departments, formulated Delhi Action Plan for total abolition of child labour in 2009 but it has not been implemented as yet.
Despite repeated orders from the court to rescue at least 500 children per month for complete eradication of child labour, government data shows that 24,000 children are yet to be rescued, the lawyer said.
Next Story
