Press release

National Human Rights Commission

New Delhi: 7th July 2026

Curtain raiser: NHRC, India to hear online 86 cases of alleged bonded labour in Haryana brick kilns on 9th July 2026

Chairperson, Justice V. Ramasubramanian to chair the hearing

State Chief Secretary or his nominee, Labour Commissioner and DMs expected to attend

The Commission to review action taken by Haryana authorities on bonded labour complaints, compliance with the bonded labour law and Supreme Court orders, rehabilitation packages, e-Shram registration and measures to prevent recurrence

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India will conduct an online hearing to address 86 cases of alleged bonded labour in brick kilns across various districts in Haryana on 9th July 2026. The virtual hearing will be presided over by the Chairperson, Justice V. Ramasubramanian in the presence of senior officers.

The Commission has directed the State Chief Secretary or his nominee, Labour Commissioner, along with all concerned District Magistrates (DMs), to be present during the online hearing. The authorities are expected to present detailed reports on the actions taken, including the identification and release of bonded labourers as well as their registration on the e-Shram portal, a central platform for unorganised workers.

The hearing will focus on the assessment of the action taken by the DMs on the complaints sent to them by the NHRC, along with the status of compliance with the provisions of the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976 and the orders of the Apex Court in the Bandhua Mukti Morcha and Asiad Workers' cases, among other related issues.

The Commission will also review the status of rehabilitation packages, including financial aid, skill training and alternate livelihoods, the progress of e-Shram portal registrations to secure social security benefits for rescued labourers and the measures taken to prevent recurrence in the identified districts.

The virtual hearing underscores the NHRC's commitment to eradicating bonded labour and ensuring strict compliance with the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976. The Supreme Court had assigned the monitoring compliance of this Act and court orders to the NHRC on 11th May 1997.

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