Supreme Court Order: Bonded labourers must receive financial assistance within 7 days

The Supreme Court has issued a significant order regarding the rehabilitation and financial assistance of people rescued from bonded labour. A bench of Justice Vikram Nath and Justice A.K. Singh clarified that freeing bonded labourers is not the end of the state's responsibility, but a continuous constitutional duty. The court has directed the central government to prepare a uniform procedure to ensure that the financial assistance amount reaches the beneficiaries within 7 days of their release.

According to a report by The Hindu, this order was passed during the hearing of two petitions, one of which was filed by an individual rescued from bonded labour. The petitions highlighted the delays in financial assistance and the flaws in the identification and rehabilitation process. The court noted that the legal measures for the abolition of bonded labour should not remain limited to paper. Fulfilling the conditions necessary for rescued people to live a life of dignity should be the state's priority.

The central government informed that it had prepared a revised Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for bonded labour cases on 14 May. The court has ordered all states and union territories to implement this SOP within 6 months. Additionally, the Centre has been asked to issue supplementary guidelines within 3 months in consultation with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). The court directed that the verification of bonded labour complaints should generally be done within 24 hours, followed by immediate rescue operations. It is mandatory for the competent authority to issue a release certificate within 24 hours after identification.

Considering the difficulties and language barriers faced by labourers rescued from other states, the court stated that the process should be accessible to the beneficiaries. Information regarding their rights and rehabilitation should be provided to the rescued people in their own language. To strengthen inter-state coordination, states have been ordered to appoint nodal officers within 6 months and to form vigilance committees at the district and sub-divisional levels under the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976.

The court emphasized providing regular training to sensitize police and other officials. Any unnecessary failure in legal duties will be investigated. District Magistrates have been directed to provide employment and livelihood opportunities to the rescued people under government welfare schemes. The court has asked the Centre to submit a compliance report in 4 months and the states in 6 months. Further hearing in this matter will be held after 7 months.