Haryana human rights panel acts on The Indian Express report on bonded labour of Bihar teen, seeks medical report

Indian Express

19 hours ago

The Haryana Human Rights Commission on August 13 took suo motu cognizance of a report published in The Indian Express concerning the inhuman exploitation of a 15-year-old Bihar boy in a bonded labour case in Jind district. It has sought a detailed medical report of the injured child whose arm was accidentally severed and the preparation of a rehabilitation plan, and ordered an inquiry into possible violations of labour laws.
The commission has also directed the authorities to identify and arrest the accused and verify bonded labour practices at the buffalo farm where the boy was reportedly harassed.
According to the report, the boy, a resident of Bihar, reportedly got separated from his companions at Bahadurgarh Railway Station and was lured into bonded labour by a stranger who offered him work at his buffalo dairy farm with a promised salary of Rs 10,000 per month.
'His tasks included tending buffaloes and cows, cleaning animal waste, and other grueling farm work. He was given only a few rotis to survive each day and faced brutal beatings for minor mistakes. Once, they thrashed him so badly for a small mistake — it left him unconscious, bleeding from a blow to his forehead,' The Indian Express had reported his ordeal, quoting his elder brother as narrated to him by his brother.
Instead of legal employment, the minor was allegedly subjected to two months of slavery and physical abuse.
According to the report, the situation worsened when the teen suffered a severe injury while cutting fodder, and the farm owner abandoned him at an isolated spot without any assistance.
The incident came to light after the injured boy managed to reach Nuh, where two government school teachers spotted him on August 5. They provided him with medical help at a local health centre and informed the police.
The rights commission, comprising chairperson Justice Lalit Batra and members Kuldip Jain and Deep Bhatia, expressed grave concern over the incident.
'The facts reveal not only physical harm and violation of human dignity but also a complete breakdown of protective mechanisms meant to safeguard children from such exploitation. The boy's survival without food, water, or medical care for several days and his eventual rescue by a compassionate teacher reflect both his helplessness and extraordinary resilience', the Commission stated.
The Commission stated that the failure to detect and prevent this incident in time raises serious concerns about monitoring and rescue mechanisms in vulnerable migration corridors.
Justice Lalit Batra, heading the Full Commission, noted that 'such treatment of a minor constitutes a clear violation of international legal obligations, particularly Article 32 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which mandates protection of children from economic exploitation and from performing work likely to be hazardous or harmful to their health, education, or development. The act also prima facie violates several domestic laws, including the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976, and the Child and Adolescent Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986'.
Furthermore, the Commission observed that if proven true, the allegations amount to a gross violation of fundamental rights guaranteed under Articles 21 and 23 of the Constitution, which ensure the right to live with dignity and prohibit human trafficking and forced labour.
'Considering the gravity of the allegations and the victim's vulnerable condition, the Full Commission unanimously held that this case requires urgent and comprehensive investigation, ensuring accountability of those responsible and providing the victim with appropriate medical, psychological, and rehabilitation support', said Dr Puneet Arora, Protocol, Information & Public Relations Officer, HHRC.
The next hearing in the matter is scheduled for November 4.