The Supreme Court has directed the Ministry of Labour and Employment to file an affidavit detailing actions taken to address inter-state trafficking of bonded labourers, including minors.
A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta asked the secretary of the ministry to file the affidavit within three weeks, indicating what further directions are required from the apex court.
The top court was hearing a petition seeking enforcement of fundamental rights of people trafficked as bonded labourers.
Attorney General R Venkataramani informed the bench that developments have taken place, and the bench suggested filing an affidavit by the secretary of the Ministry of Labour and Employment.
Senior advocate H S Phoolka stated that around 11,000 children were rescued from different states, but only 971 received immediate financial assistance.
The Supreme Court had earlier directed the Centre to convene a meeting with states and Union Territories to address the issue of inter-state trafficking and grant of release certificates.
The apex court had also directed the Centre to take the National Human Rights Commission on board while finalising the procedure.
The court observed that the problem lies in the disbursal of immediate financial assistance to rescued children, as some minors were taken from their home states and forced into bonded labour in adjoining states.
