Haryana: Teen victim of bonded labour receives ₹10 lakh compensation after Human Rights Commission intervention

June 26, 2026

Following the intervention of the Haryana Human Rights Commission, a 15-year-old boy who was a victim of bonded labor, child exploitation, and inhumane treatment has received compensation of ₹10 lakh. Acting on the Commission’s recommendation, the Haryana government sanctioned this amount as a “special case” on June 16, 2026, even though the Haryana Victim Compensation Scheme-2020 normally provides for a maximum compensation of ₹2 lakh in such instances.

The Commission took suo motu cognizance of the matter and ordered an investigation. The probe revealed that the boy, a native of Kishanganj, Bihar, had been lured with the promise of employment and subjected to bonded labor for over two months at a dairy farm in Bahadurgarh. He was made to perform several hazardous tasks, including operating a fodder-cutting machine. During this time, his left arm was severed below the elbow after getting caught in the machine. It is alleged that instead of arranging for medical treatment, the employer abandoned the injured boy in a desolate area.

An FIR regarding the incident was registered at the Bahadurgarh GRP police station, and a charge sheet has been filed in court against the accused under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita-2023 and the Juvenile Justice Act. The Commission observed that the case involved grave human rights violations, bonded labor, and a breach of Articles 21 and 23 of the Constitution.

During the hearing, considering the boy’s permanent disability and the need for rehabilitation, the Commission recommended compensation of ₹10 lakh under Section 18 of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993. Appreciating the efforts of the investigating officer, the Commission issued a letter of commendation to Superintendent of Police Nitika Gahlaut, while a proposal to honor the investigating officer, Inspector Satya Prakash, is also under consideration.