Child labour: Couple told to plant 100 trees in Delhi

NEW DELHI: Delhi high court ended criminal proceedings against a couple who had employed a minor for household work, on the condition that they plant 100 trees and pay compensation to the victim.
Justice Najmi Waziri also directed two persons, who acted as agents through which the minor girl was employed at the couple’s house, to offer manual labour for plantation and care of the trees. HC also imposed a fine of Rs 1.5 lakh on the couple and Rs 10,000 each on the two agents and directed the amount be paid to the minor.

The court zeroed in on planting of trees as a condition after the couple expressed contrition and said they wanted to do some social work. It directed them to plant 50 trees each in Delhi, and was asked to report to the deputy conservator of forests (south) who shall assign them duties of planting the trees in Central Ridge for 10 working days in compensatory afforestation or other schemes.

The court said the trees shall be of deciduous indigenous variety with a nursery age of three-and-a-half years and a height of at least six feet.

Depending upon the soil type and topography, the court said the forest officer may consider plantation of Gular (Cluster Fig), Kadamba (Burflower Tree), Pilkhan (White Fig), Jaamun (Black Plum), Bargad (Banyan Tree), Mango, Amaltas (Golden Shower) or Mahua (Butter Tree).

As regards the two agents, the court noted that as an expression of their contrition and remorse for having put the child through pain, they must offer manual labour for the plantation and care of the trees. HC also asked the deputy conservator of forest (south) to file an affidavit of compliance, along with pictures of plantation, on or before March 25.

A case was registered at Rajouri Garden police station for the offences of voluntarily causing hurt, unlawful compulsory labour under the Indian Penal Code and the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act. It was alleged that the minor was kept in illegal confinement for about three months for household labour and was brought to Delhi by the two agents, apparently with the consent of the victim’s father.

She was employed by the couple for household work and was allegedly physically assaulted whenever she made a mistake and was never paid any money for the period of her work, it was alleged.