Abolish child labour, HC tells govt, police

New Delhi, September 20 

The Delhi High Court on Friday directed the AAP government and the police to strictly follow the Delhi Action Plan for Total Abolition of Child Labour, which gives the procedure for interim care and protection of the rescued children. 

A Bench of Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice C Hari Shankar noted that the Delhi action plan was submitted by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights and accepted by the court in its orders of July 15, 2009 and November 5, 2014.

The Bench said it was the bounden duty of the authorities to ensure that there was no violation of the provisions of the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act and the Bounded Labour System (Abolition) Act. 

The court was hearing an application by NGO 'Save the Childhood Foundation' seeking implementation of the court's 2009 judgement to prevent and eliminate child labour. 

The court, while disposing off the plea, incorporated the suggestions given by senior advocate HS Phoolka and lawyers Prabhsahay Kaur and Shilpa Diwan on the issue of elimination of child labour and gave them as directions to various departments of the Delhi Government and civic bodies, Delhi Police and Delhi Legal Service Authority.

The Delhi action plan provides for a detailed procedure to be adopted at the pre-rescue and actual rescue stage. It said the authorities should keep in mind the directions given by it for the welfare of children. — PTI