New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday issued
a notice to the Centre on a PIL challenging the constitutional
validity of a provision which permitted employment of children
for hazardous beedi rolling in home-based workshops as part of
family labour and government funded/aided schools.
A Bench comprising Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and
Justice P Sathasivam sought the response from the Ministry of
Labour, Women and Child Development and the Ministry of Health
on a plea filed by an NGO `Health for Millions`.
Advocate Anand Grover submitted that employment of
children in beedi-making in cottage industry was going on
unabated as a provision in the legislation against child
labour was coming in its way to stop their entry.
He said the proviso (exception) to Section 3 of the
Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986 allows a
child to be lawfully engaged in home-based beedi-making
processes and government funded schools manufacturing beedis.
The NGO said the proviso is violative of the Article 24
which prohibits employment of children below 14 years of age
in hazardous industries.
Bureau Report
