NHRC Suo Motu Action: Human Rights Body Probes Child Slavery Racket Born from Railway Station Separation
(By Syed Ali Taher Abedi)
Delhi,16, January,2026- The National Human Rights Commission has initiated a high-level probe into the “systemic failure” of railway security and state labour enforcement after a 15-year-old boy was trafficked into bondage following a crowd-induced separation at Bahadurgarh Station.
The Commission took Suo motu cognizance of media reports detailing the victim’s eight-month ordeal, which culminated in the minor returning to his home in Bihar with his left elbow severed—a permanent disability sustained during his forced labour in Greater Noida.
The Commission’s intervention specifically targets the lack of a Bonded Labour Release Certificate, a mandatory legal instrument under the Central Sector Scheme for Rehabilitation of Bonded Labourer-2021.
In its directive, the NHRC has called upon top officials in Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar to explain the lapse in inter-state vigilance and to confirm if the victim has been accorded benefits under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.
The media report in question has further exposed a critical procedural lapse by the authorities: the issuance of a Bonded Labour Release Certificate—a legally mandated document essential for any bonded laborer victim to claim rehabilitation services, financial compensation, or other benefits under the Central Sector Scheme for Rehabilitation of Bonded Labourers-2021—remains pending.
This certificate, verifiable through official channels and required under the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976, serves as the foundational proof of exploitation, enabling access to government schemes that provide immediate relief, vocational training, and long-term socio-economic upliftment.
The delay in its release not only denies the victim timely justice but also underscores systemic delays in implementing anti-trafficking and labor rights protocols across inter-state jurisdictions.
Taking serious cognizance of these revelations, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has determined that the facts outlined in the report, if substantiated, constitute a grave violation of fundamental human rights, including the right to life, liberty, and dignity as enshrined under Article 21 of the Constitution of India. In response, the Commission has promptly issued formal notices to key officials, namely the Chief Secretary and Director General of Police of Haryana; the Commissioner of Police, Gautam Budh Nagar, Uttar Pradesh; and the District Magistrate, Kishanganj, Bihar.
These authorities have been directed to furnish detailed factual reports, including action taken reports, within a strict timeline of two weeks, to facilitate a thorough inquiry and ensure accountability.
According to a media report dated January 12, 2026, the boy, after missing a train, stayed at a railway station for two days before being lured to Greater Noida on the pretext of a job.
There, he was forced to work long hours, subjected to physical abuse, and prevented from escaping.
His left hand was severed in a fodder-cutting machine, after which he was abandoned without medical aid. He was later taken to a hospital in Haryana, escaped due to fear of recapture, walked several kilometres barefoot, and was eventually helped by two government teachers who informed the GRP. The victim returned home in August 2025.
