NEW DELHI/ME BUREAU
Justice Hemant Gupta on a 2-judge bench of the Supreme Court on Wednesday scoffed at a case filed on exploitation of the bonded labourers rescued from the brick kilns in Jammu and Kashmir.
Even as the lawyer of the petitioner submitted that many were victims of sexual harassment and not paid any money even after 10 years, Justice Gupta asserted that a racket running in the country in the pretext of bonded labour.
Citing the government’s detailed response citing several aspects, the Bench said: “The state will ake remedial steps if any required under the law.”
Justice Gupta was very blunt that the so-called bonded labourers are not actually bonded, but they take money for work and then resign.
“They are engaged by brick kilns. They come from backward areas. They take money and eat the money and then resign. This is a racket. These labourers only take advantage of this bonded labourer thing,” he remarked.
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