HC to decide the fate of 14 rescued child labourers

New Delhi, Nov 28 (UNI) The Delhi High Court today issued notices to the Delhi government and a voluntary organisation Bachpan Bachao Andolan on whether the 14 children, rescued by the Delhi police while working as labourers, should be handed over to their parents.

A bench comprising Chief Justice M K Sharma and Sanjive Khanna has directed Delhi Chief Secretary and Bachpan Bachao Andolan to appear in the court on December 12, to decide whether it is in the interest of the children to be handed over to their parents who are so poor to afford their welfare.

Delhi police on October 30, 2007 had rescued 14 minor children from Shah Pur Jat area working in inhumane conditions. On directions of the Delhi High Court, these children were sent to protective custody of Bachpan Bachao Andolan till December 12. Meanwhile, parents of these children who stay in West Bengal came to Delhi to take their children back.

Ashok Agarwal of Social Jurist organisation filed a petition on behalf of the parents in the High Court seeking the custody of their children. The parents maintained in the court they out of poverty had sent their children to work in Delhi.

They also alleged that the agent had cheated them after promising to send them the wages of their children. They neither have received any money nor they could find the whereabouts of their children. It was only after someone watched the TV and informed them about the plight of their children.

The court will decide on the day of hearing, as to what is in the interest of children and pronounce its orders.

UNI