The Jharkhand High Court has instructed the Garhwa district administration to ensure that approximately 300 rescued bonded laborers settled in the district receive government welfare and rehabilitation benefits they are entitled to. These laborers were liberated from various districts of Uttar Pradesh almost 34 years ago in 1992. A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Ghanshyam Pathak prompted the court’s decision, highlighting that these laborers have not received proper assistance under the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976, or other welfare schemes despite settling in Jharkhand.
The division bench, comprising Chief Justice S.M. Sonak and Justice Rajesh Shankar, issued the directive after considering the PIL. The petition outlined that despite being freed in 1992, many of the 300 bonded laborers who relocated to Garhwa district have not benefitted from housing, healthcare, employment, and pension schemes. The High Court expressed dismay over the prolonged neglect, emphasizing that bureaucratic delays should not hinder eligible individuals from receiving their rightful entitlements under the law.
The court’s order mandates the Garhwa Deputy Commissioner to identify all eligible laborers and ensure they receive benefits under the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act and other relevant government welfare programs. It stressed that tangible action, not just paperwork, is necessary to guarantee that these individuals receive the assistance they are legally owed.
