Mumbai: Sessions court acquits employer convicted of child labour

A man who was convicted by the Magistrate court for employing a minor and getting service from him was acquitted by the Session’s court as the police failed to provide any independent witnesses in the case. The court held that it would not just simply rely on the police witness statements to convict the accused. The court held that the police did not even produce the child witness to examine in order to prove the guilt of the accused. 

The court while passing orders held, “The prosecution or the police machinery failed to produce the child labour before the court despite many attempts. No production of child witness is fatal for the case. The prosecution failed to produce the birth certificate of the child and also they did not produce any evidence to prove that the child was working for the accused. Thus in the absence of proof, court acquits the accused.”

Shahu Nagar police in 2016, held Mohd Mudastir Shaikh (33) for employing a minor at his stall Mohammed Nagauri Milk and Hotel, Mahim.