Right Against Exploitation: SC Shuts Down Factory Using Bonded Child Labour
In early 2025, a sting operation revealed a textile factory in Bihar where children as young as 11 were working 14-hour shifts in unsafe conditions, paid less than ₹50 per day.
The Supreme Court took immediate action and ordered the factory shut down, reuniting 64 children with their families and demanding state accountability.
The Legal Foundation
The Right Against Exploitation, under Articles 23 and 24, protects against:
- Human trafficking
- Forced labour
- Employment of children below 14 in hazardous industries
India also has specific laws like:
- Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976
- Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986
Court’s Verdict
- The employer was directed to pay ₹2 lakh per child as compensation
- District officials were reprimanded for failing in their monitoring duties
- The Centre was asked to publish names of convicted employers nationwide
Ripple Effect
- Strengthened the role of National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR)
- Raised awareness about supply chain due diligence
- Corporate houses began rechecking their vendor compliances
This wasn't just about punishing one factory. It was about sending a message to an entire industry—exploitative profit comes at the cost of the law, and the law will catch up.
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