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Former CJI: Child labour is being regularized

TNN | May 28, 2015, 04.45 AM IST

Former CJI: Child labour is being regularized “Child labour unfortunately is being regularized now,” Justice Kabir said while addressing a packed audience at the SN Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences (SNBNCBS), Kolkata.

KOLKATA: The Centre's proposal to bring changes in the child labour law is being slammed by activists across the country. On Wednesday, there was another voice of dissent on the issue. And it belonged to none other than Justice Altamas Kabir, the former Chief Justice of India (CJI). 

"Child labour unfortunately is being regularized now," Justice Kabir said while addressing a packed audience at the SN Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences (SNBNCBS), Kolkata. The former CJI was speaking at the gender sensitization workshop organized by SNBNCBS and said this in the context of equality and rights. 

The Union government recently decided to ban child labour below 14 years of age. But the proposal came with a caveat that children can pursue family business, entertainment, sports activities after school or during vacation. Activists have slammed this, saying that it will hamper the progress made in getting children out of work and into schools. 

Citing the Preamble to the Constitution of India, Justice Kabir explained that the 'we' in 'We the people of India' and does not speak about sex, gender, caste or religion. He then went on to say that things began to change with education, which made women realize that they are not inferior. 

"If a woman is subjected to harassment at workplace, she may be forced to quit. This defeats the right to practise a profession, trade or business," said Justice Kabir on why the law on sexual harassment at the workplace came into being. 

Around 200 employees of SNBNCBS attended the workshop titled 'Gender sensitization: Issues at workplace'. Other speakers in the workshop included Shobhana Narasimhan, professor at Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Ruchira Gupta, founder and president of Apne Aap Women Worldwide. 

If a woman is harassed in the workplace, she may be forced to quit. This defeats the right to practise a profession, trade or business. 

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/Former-CJI-Child-labour-is-being-regularized/articleshow/47451064.cms