High Court pulls up govt for inaction against illegal placement agencies
12 Sept 2014 5:00 AM IST
A bench of chief justice G Rohini and justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw was not satisfied with Delhi government’s argument that it was waiting for the Delhi Private Placement Agencies (Regulation) Bill to be passed.
‘The labour secretary shall appear before the court in person on 30 September and explain the reasons as to why the order of this court has not been followed,’ it said.
It rejected the plea of Delhi government’s counsel that the additional labour commissioner has been dealing with the issue and instead of the secretary, he can be asked to appear and explain. The bench said that on 18 December, 2013, the government was given six weeks to issue the executive directions which were to remain in force till the Bill was passed.
‘Have you issued any executive directions as directed by this court on 18 December, 2013? You were asked to issue directions within six weeks but no such directions were passed. Let concerned secretary be present in court to explain why,’ the court said.
The bench passed the order after advocate Prabhsahay Kaur, appearing for the NGO ‘Bachpan Bachao Andolan’, informed the court that it had issued elaborate directions in 2010 to curb the menace of child trafficking through placement agencies, which have not been followed by Delhi government till date.
She also cited newspaper reports which have claimed that over 10,000 illegal placement agencies are operating in the national capital and that on 9 September, 2014, the Delhi Police rescued three trafficked girls even as they were being auctioned to placement agencies. She also said that as no action is taken against the placement agencies, more and more girls are brought in by them.
‘The labour secretary shall appear before the court in person on 30 September and explain the reasons as to why the order of this court has not been followed,’ it said.
It rejected the plea of Delhi government’s counsel that the additional labour commissioner has been dealing with the issue and instead of the secretary, he can be asked to appear and explain. The bench said that on 18 December, 2013, the government was given six weeks to issue the executive directions which were to remain in force till the Bill was passed.
‘Have you issued any executive directions as directed by this court on 18 December, 2013? You were asked to issue directions within six weeks but no such directions were passed. Let concerned secretary be present in court to explain why,’ the court said.
The bench passed the order after advocate Prabhsahay Kaur, appearing for the NGO ‘Bachpan Bachao Andolan’, informed the court that it had issued elaborate directions in 2010 to curb the menace of child trafficking through placement agencies, which have not been followed by Delhi government till date.
She also cited newspaper reports which have claimed that over 10,000 illegal placement agencies are operating in the national capital and that on 9 September, 2014, the Delhi Police rescued three trafficked girls even as they were being auctioned to placement agencies. She also said that as no action is taken against the placement agencies, more and more girls are brought in by them.
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