Archive · 28 Aug 2026
Rights Panel Orders Ex Parte Case Over Mumbai Child Labour
A human rights panel is investigating claims that children were made to clean dangerous drains in Mumbai.
The alleged work happened in the Wadala area.
The panel had asked Mumbai’s civic corporation to respond to the case.
The corporation did not file its reply on time.
Because of this, the panel ordered the case to continue without waiting for the corporation’s response.
A Labour Department officer said a contractor working for the civic corporation employed the children.
The report also said similar child labour was found during five raids.
Police registered a case, and the panel wants to know whether responsible civic officers were included as accused.
The next hearing will take place on October 28, 2026.
The Maharashtra State Human Rights Commission ordered ex parte proceedings against the MCGM commissioner after the civic body failed to reply.
The case concerns allegations that children cleaned gutters and nallahs in Mumbai’s Wadala area.
A Labour Department report said the work was conducted by a contractor engaged by the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai.
The report described child employment in similar hazardous work as rampant across three MCGM wards and cited five raids.
The commission directed Mumbai’s police commissioner to report whether MCGM officers were made accused in Crime No. 262/2026; the next hearing is October 28, 2026.
- Who
- The Maharashtra State Human Rights Commission, the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai, the Labour Department, police, and alleged child labourers.
- What
- The commission ordered ex parte proceedings against the MCGM commissioner over alleged child employment in hazardous gutter and nallah cleaning work.
- When
- The commission’s action was reported on August 27, 2026; the next hearing is scheduled for October 28, 2026.
- Where
- Wadala and other MCGM ward areas in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
- Why
- The commission acted after a report alleged children were cleaning drains and after MCGM failed to file a reply.
- Investigating body
- Maharashtra State Human Rights Commission
- Civic authority
- Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai
- Alleged work
- Cleaning gutters and nallahs
- Reported location
- Wadala, Mumbai
- Labour Department action
- Five raids were conducted with police and NGOs, according to the submitted report.
- Police case
- Crime No. 262/2026 was registered at Wadala Police Station.
- Next hearing
- October 28, 2026