LI Network
Published on: January 13, 2024 at 13:15 IST
The Delhi High Court, under the leadership of Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora, has issued a set of directives focused on ensuring prompt financial assistance, retrieval of overdue wages, and a more efficient legal process for child labourers rescued in the national capital.
The Court has mandated the establishment of a joint savings bank account for a rescued child placed in a childcare or juvenile home, with the minor and the respective institution’s Superintendent or In-charge named as the temporary guardian.
These instructions were issued in response to two pleas from fathers of children victimized by bonded labour, seeking relief for their children and others who had not received financial assistance under statutory schemes.
Importantly, if parents or guardians are identified subsequently, financial assistance will be electronically transferred within a week after due verification.
Furthermore, the Court stipulated that once a rescued child attains the age of majority during their stay at the Child Welfare Committee, they are granted permission to operate the account independently.
NGOs and Vigilance committees were directed to collaborate and provide necessary information regarding bank accounts and relevant documents of the rescued children or their parents.
The Delhi Government’s Labour Department was instructed to issue Recovery Notices for back wages within two working days of a child’s rescue.
In the event that the accused employer fails to deposit back wages within two weeks, recovery certificates will be issued, and the amount recovered as arrears of land revenue by the concerned SDM.
The Court emphasized that recovered back wages for a specific bonded child labourer should be disbursed within a week to the child or their parents/legal guardians.
