Irked over non-compliance of its order by the city government to issue executive directions for regulating placement agencies, the Delhi High Court today sought the presence of its Labour Secretary to explain why no action has been taken till date.
A bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw was not satisfied with Delhi government's argument that it was waiting for the Delhi Private Placement Agencies (Regulation) Bill to be passed.
"The Secretary, Labour Department, Government of Delhi, shall appear before this court in person on September 30 and explain the reasons as to why the order of this court has not been followed," it said.
It rejected the plea of Delhi government's counsel that the Additional Labour Commissioner has been dealing with the issue and instead of the Secretary, he can be asked to appear and explain.
The bench said that on December 18, 2013, the government was given six weeks to issue the executive directions which were to remain in force till the Bill was passed.
"Have you issued any executive directions as directed by this court on December 18, 2013? You were asked to issue directions within six weeks but no such directions were passed. Let concerned Secretary be present in court to explain why," it said.
The bench passed the order after advocate Prabhsahay Kaur, appearing for NGO 'Bachpan Bachao Andolan', informed the court that it had issued elaborate directions in 2010 to curb the menace of child trafficking through placement agencies, which have not been followed by Delhi government till date.
She also cited newspaper reports which have claimed that over 10,000 illegal placement agencies are operating in the national capital and that on September 9, 2014 the Delhi Police rescued three trafficked girls even as they were being auctioned to placement agencies.
She also said that as no action is taken against the placement agencies, more and more girls are brought in by them.
