New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has directed authorities to take immediate steps to recover back wages due to three minor girls rescued during a child labour raid in the national capital, while also asking the police to find the employers who are allegedly untraceable.
A single-judge Bench of Justice Sachin Datta passed the direction while allowing a petition filed by the mothers of the rescued girls, who were found during a child labour raid conducted on May 9, 2023.
Following the raid, the office of the Joint Labour Commissioner, West, had computed the back wages payable by the employers.
In its order, the Delhi High Court recorded that an FIR was subsequently registered under provisions of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, and the Child and Adolescent Labour Act, 1986, but the employers failed to deposit the wages despite repeated representations made by the petitioners before the authorities.
Observing that the issue of recovery of wages was already settled by earlier judgments, Justice Datta reiterated that authorities are under an obligation to initiate recovery proceedings in a time-bound manner.
The order reproduced portions of the earlier judgment which directed that recovery notices be issued within two working days of the rescue of a child labourer and that, if employers fail to deposit wages within two weeks, recovery certificates should be issued and the amount recovered as arrears of land revenue through the concerned Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM).
Directing immediate action, the Delhi High Court ordered that the amounts due be remitted to the bank accounts of the rescued children within two weeks.
Taking note of the submission that the employers were currently untraceable, it directed the SDM to coordinate with the police to ascertain their whereabouts.
“The Delhi Police is directed to proactively investigate and take all necessary measures for the said purpose,” Justice Datta ordered.
The Delhi High Court expressed hope that the recovery process would be completed expeditiously and “preferably within a period of three months”.
The matter has been listed on October 28 for reporting compliance, and the authorities have been directed to file a compliance affidavit before the next date of hearing.
(IANS)
