Eradication of Child Labour- Socio–Legal Challenge and Judicial Activism in India

According to the NSSO (66th round of Survey) on Child Labour in Major Indian States, 2009-10 in the (Age group 5-14) is 49.83 lakh. Poverty and social conditions of the family are main reasons children are forced to work. Child labour is a phenomenon found in the almost all countries of the world though the number may vary. International Labour Organisation has passed many conventions to eradicate child labour. In India we observe that the laws and regulations can be implemented only in organised sector. The children working in unorganised sector are still being neglected. Their number is not known. The child labour is unorganised sector is invisible yet it cannot be ignored by any society or state. Mainly it is NGOs who take steps to prevent exploitation and render help to child labour in distress .The Government machinery seems to be inadequate. Judicial Activism is observed when in the Public interest litigations, writ petitions or regular cases are disposed of speedily by judges, It is also observed when Courts themselves i.e. “suo motto” take up cases. The important contribution made by the Judiciary in preventing child labour and giving guidelines for implementation of the laws and regulation is being researched and analysed in this paper.