The Delhi high court has asked the city government to file a report giving details of the total number of child workers rescued by it so far and the steps taken to rehabilitate them.
A bench of acting Chief Justice A.K. Sikri and Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw asked additional solicitor general (ASG) A.S. Chandhiok, appearing for Delhi government, to file a status report by December 3, the next date of hearing.
The bench was hearing a petition filed by NGO Save the Childhood Foundation alleging that the city government and its agencies were not complying with the earlier court order on rescue of children workers and their proper rehabilitation.
Advocate H.S. Phoolka, appearing for the NGO, said, “The government agencies should have rescued around 12,000 child workers by now but sadly, it has not been done. They have also not collected a fine of `20,000 per children from nearly 270 erring employers.”
Citing a response received under the Right to Information Act, the lawyer said, “The state received grant of `11.5 crores from the Central government for the welfare and rehabilitation of such children. However, only `2.5 crore has been spent.”