HC disposes of plea to conduct daily trials in bonded labour cases

Madurai: Taking into account that the Supreme Court had directed high courts to form committees to speed up trials related to bonded labour cases in district courts, Madras high court asked the high court registry to take the matter to the notice of the Chief Justice for appropriate orders.The court was hearing a public interest litigation filed by Thangavel seeking a direction to the registrar general of Madras HC and registrar (judicial) of Madurai bench to issue appropriate circulars/instructions to all trial courts to conduct trials on a day-to-day basis in cases relating to bonded labour in light of the Supreme Court directions and to ensure expeditious disposal of the cases within a reasonable time frame.The petitioner’s counsel submitted that despite the state government in a 2021 GO having issued standard operating procedure to release and rescue bonded labourers, criminal cases registered against the accused are still pending. Nearly 28 cases are still pending for more than 10 years.A division bench of justice N Sathish Kumar and justice M Jothiraman observed that if the committee is not constituted to monitor these type of cases, the registry may bring it to the notice of the Chief Justice of Madras HC for appropriate orders. The petition was disposed of.