Thursday , Jul 16, 2009

The Delhi High Court, on Wednesday, directed the Government of National Capital Territory and all it concerned departments to “immediately” implement the recommendations of the action plan, comprehensively drafted by the National Commission on Protection of Child Rights for protection and interim care for rescued children.

Accepting the report with minor modifications, a Division Bench headed by Chief Justice A P Shah noted it was high time that the mandates of a 1997 Supreme Court judgement be followed to prevent any further harm to the children.

As per the court’s directive, which has come in pursuant to a PIL filed by Save the Childhood Foundation (Bachpan Bachao Andolan), every child rescued from an unsafe job will receive Rs 20,000 in compensation, which will be recovered from the employer.

Removing the bar on disbursement of the compensation, the Bench, also comprising Justice Manmohan, said it was not essential to obtain a conviction order against the employer in order to make him shell out the compensation.