CAT member caught in Commission's net

Patna, May 23 (UNI) The Bihar government today ordered a probe into alleged violation of child labour act by a judicial member of Central Administrative Tribunal(CAT) Sadhna Srivastav.

State labour commissioner Vimlanand Jha told UNI that acting on media reports exposing recruitment of a minor as domestic help of Ms Srivastav, he had directed his deputy in Patna to investigate the matter.

Meanwhile, Chairman of state labour commission Ramdeo Prasad said prosecution proceeding would be initiated against Ms Srivastav for employing a minor in violation of child labour laws.

He said as per the notification of the union labour ministry issued on July 10, 2006, the scope of the Child Labour(prohibition and regulation) Act 1986 had been extended to encompass child domestic workers up to 14 years of age within its purview.

''Violation of the Child labour Act attracts the punishment of one year in jail and Rs 20,000 fine,'' he added.

Incidentally the matter came to light when an official of Tata Motors,Suresh Mahto, was flung out by criminals from the eighth floor residence of Ms Srivastav on May 20 at Budhmarg locality in Patna, leading to his instant death.

During investigation, it was found that a domestic help was working at her residence, who narrated the sequence of events to the police. One criminal was nabbed while the other managed to escape from the spot while raids were being carried out to arrest him as well. Ms Srivatav was also present at her residence when the incident occurred.

UNI