The Supreme Court on Monday issued notices to the Union Government and key statutory bodies, including the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking a nationwide ban on the employment of minors in orchestras, spas, massage parlours, dance bars, and similar establishments.
A bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul Pancholi, described the matter as “very serious” while admitting the petition filed by an NGO working on issues of child trafficking and exploitation. The court has sought responses from the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Ministry of Law and Justice, and other concerned authorities on the issue raised in the plea.
The petition argues that existing provisions under the Child and Adolescent Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986 do not explicitly classify several entertainment and wellness-related sectors as hazardous occupations. According to the plea, this gap in the law has created an enforcement vacuum that allegedly allows trafficking networks and exploitative employers to operate under the guise of legitimate employment in cultural and service industries.
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The NGO has sought directions to include orchestras, dance troupes, dance bars, massage parlours, spas, salons, and similar establishments under the list of prohibited hazardous occupations for individuals below 18 years of age. It has also urged the court to direct the government to formulate a standard operating procedure (SOP) for the rescue, rehabilitation, and reintegration of minors found working in such environments.
The petition further alleges that minors, particularly girls, are frequently lured from economically weaker backgrounds with false promises of employment, marriage, or financial support, only to be subjected to coercion and exploitation. It claims that rescued children from multiple states, including Bihar, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, and others, have reported instances of trafficking linked to orchestras and similar setups, highlighting what it describes as a wider organised network.
The Supreme Court has now placed the matter for further consideration after receiving responses from the Centre and other agencies. The case is expected to examine gaps in existing child labour laws and assess whether additional safeguards are required to prevent exploitation in informal and semi-formal entertainment and service sectors across the country.
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