Haryana human rights panel orders Rs10L aid for Kishanganj boy

Patna: The Haryana State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) has recommended that the Haryana govt pay Rs 10 lakh compensation to Santosh, a 16-year-old bonded labour victim from Bihar’s Kishanganj who suffered permanent disability after being forced into labour.In its May 14 order, the commission observed that while the physical trauma and mental agony suffered by the minor could not be fully undone, the compensation was necessary to meet the minimum cost of a prosthetic limb and help him rebuild his life with dignity.The case relates to the rescue of the minor in 2025 after he was allegedly kept in illegal confinement for more than two months by the accused, Anil Kumar. During this period, he was allegedly forced to operate a mechanical chaff cutter for harvesting animal fodder, during which his upper left arm was severed.The SHRC has directed the additional chief secretary of the Haryana home department to submit a compliance report on the compensation payment at least one week before the next hearing scheduled for Aug 6.Yogesh Parshad, counsel for the victim, said the investigation had progressed and the accused had repeatedly failed to secure bail.“The chargesheet has been filed, and the accused has been denied bail a total of three times — twice at the lower court and once at the sessions court, The next hearing is on July 28, at the Jhajjar sessions court for prosecution evidence,” Yogesh said.

Despite the National Human Rights Commission taking suo motu cognisance of the matter, Santosh is yet to receive the bonded labour release certificate nearly 10 months after his rescue.Officials said the release certificate should ordinarily be issued within 24 hours of rescue, as it enables victims to access both financial and rehabilitation assistance under bonded labour relief provisions.