Can’t employ minors: DGP

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 25

If the interpretation of Juvenile Justice Act by KP Singh, DGP (Prison), Haryana, is taken into account, then child labour is rampant in the city and no market is free from it.

While chairing a capacity-building workshop for police personnel on the Juvenile Justice Act and the Protection of Child from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, Singh said involving a child under the age of 18 in any work was an offence.

When representatives of NGOs told the DGP that the recent amendment in the labour laws permitted a child above 14 years of age to work under non-hazardous conditions, the DGP replied, “The Juvenile Justice Act is above all other laws and only the rules under it will prevail,” said Singh.

This left everyone sitting in conference hall flummoxed. Recently, the Chandigarh Commission for Protection of Child Rights (CCPCR) had convened a seminar where they had honoured representatives of the Chandigarh Beopar Mandal for making five markets free from child labour.

As per DGP KP Singh’s interpretation, hiring anyone under 18 years of age is illegal and invites punishment up to five years and fine. “In this way, no market is from child labour,” said a representative of the child helpline.

“These are overlapping laws that lead to confusion. Now, under which law we should operate. If we will implement the Juvenile Justice Act, then we will be at loggerheads with many business institutions. Even parents who are sending their wards for work will also complain,” said a police officer.