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Supreme Court orders government to set up special cell for Child Labour Amendment Act implementation
✍️ Hindustan Times
🗓 04 Nov 2026, 02:45 PM
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The Supreme Court has directed the Centre to establish a dedicated cell to ensure effective rollout of the recently amended Child Labour Act.
The Supreme Court, in a recent order, instructed the Union government to create a special cell tasked with overseeing the implementation of the amended Child Labour Act. The directive underscores the Court's concern that existing mechanisms have not sufficiently curbed child labour across the country.
The amendment to the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act expands the definition of hazardous work and strengthens penalties for violations, aiming to protect children from exploitative employment. By mandating a dedicated cell, the Court seeks to ensure that these legal provisions translate into tangible action on the ground.
The newly constituted cell will monitor compliance by states and private entities, coordinate with labour ministries, and report progress to the Court at regular intervals. It is expected to develop guidelines, conduct audits, and facilitate capacity‑building for enforcement agencies.
Government officials have indicated that they will comply with the order and are in the process of drafting the cell's structure and operational framework. The move is seen as a significant step toward eradicating child labour and aligning India’s labour standards with international norms.
The amendment to the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act expands the definition of hazardous work and strengthens penalties for violations, aiming to protect children from exploitative employment. By mandating a dedicated cell, the Court seeks to ensure that these legal provisions translate into tangible action on the ground.
The newly constituted cell will monitor compliance by states and private entities, coordinate with labour ministries, and report progress to the Court at regular intervals. It is expected to develop guidelines, conduct audits, and facilitate capacity‑building for enforcement agencies.
Government officials have indicated that they will comply with the order and are in the process of drafting the cell's structure and operational framework. The move is seen as a significant step toward eradicating child labour and aligning India’s labour standards with international norms.