The Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2016

THE CHILD LABOUR (PROHIBITION AND REGULATION) AMENDMENT ACT, 2016 N O. 35 OF 2016 [29th July, 2016.] An Act further to amend the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986. BE it enacted by Parliament in the Sixty-seventh Year of the Republic of India as follows:— 1. (1) This Act may be called the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2016.

1. (2) It shall come into force on such date as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint.

In the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986 (hereinafter referred to as the principal Act), for the long title, the following shall be substituted, namely:— “An Act to prohibit the engagement of children in all occupations and to prohibit the engagement of adolescents in hazardous occupations and processes and the matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.”.

In section 1 of the principal Act, in sub-section (1), for the words, brackets and figures “the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986”, the words, brackets and figures “the Child and Adolescent Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986” shall be substituted.

In section 2 of the principal Act,— (a) clause (i) shall be renumbered as clause (ia) thereof and before clause (ia) as so renumbered, the following clause shall be inserted, namely:— ‘(i) “adolescent” means a person who has completed his fourteenth year of age but has not completed his eighteenth year;’; (b) for clause (ii), the following clause shall be substituted, namely:— ‘(ii) “child” means a person who has not completed his fourteenth year of age or such age as may be specified in the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, whichever is more;’. In section 4 of the principal Act, for the words “add any occupation or process to the Schedule”, the words “add to, or, omit from, the Schedule any hazardous occupation or process” shall be substituted.

For section 3 of the principal Act, the following section shall be substituted, namely:— “3. (1) No child shall be employed or permitted to work in any occupation or process. (2) Nothing in sub-section (1) shall apply where the child,— (a) helps his family or family enterprise, which is other than any hazardous occupations or processes set forth in the Schedule, after his school hours or during vacations; (b) works as an artist in an audio-visual entertainment industry, including advertisement, films, television serials or any such other entertainment or sports activities except the circus, subject to such conditions and safety measures, as may be prescribed: Provided that no such work under this clause shall effect the school education of the child. Explanation.—For the purposes of this section, the expression, (a) ‘‘family’’ in relation to a child, means his mother, father, brother, sister and father’s sister and brother and mother’s sister and brother; (b) ‘‘family enterprise’’ means any work, profession, manufacture or business which is performed by the members of the family with the engagement of other persons; (c) ‘‘artist’’ means a child who performs or practices any work as a hobby or profession directly involving him as an actor, singer, sports person or in such other activity as may be prescribed relating to the entertainment or sports activities falling under clause (b) of sub-section (2).”. In section 5 of the principal Act,— (i) in the marginal heading, for the words ‘‘Child Labour Technical Advisory Committee’’, the words ‘‘Technical Advisory Committee’’ shall be substituted; (ii) in sub-section (1), for the words ‘‘Child Labour Technical Advisory Committee’’, the words ‘‘Technical Advisory Committee’’ shall be substituted.

In section 6 of the principal Act, for the word and figure ‘‘section 3’’, the word, figure and letter ‘‘section 3A’’ shall be substituted.

In section 7 of the principal Act, for the word ‘‘child’’, wherever it occurs, the word ‘‘adolescent’’ shall be substituted.

In section 8 of the principal Act, for the word ‘‘child’’, the word ‘‘adolescent’’ shall be substituted.

In section 9 of the principal Act, for the word ‘‘child’’, at both the places, where it occurs, the word ‘‘adolescent’’ shall be substituted.

In section 10 of the principal Act, for the word ‘‘child’’, at both the places, where it occurs, the word ‘‘adolescent’’ shall be substituted.

In section 11 of the principal Act,— (a) for the word ‘‘children’’, the word ‘‘adolescent’’ shall be substituted. (b) for the word ‘‘child’’, wherever it occurs the word ‘‘adolescent’’ shall be substituted.

In section 12 of the principal Act,— (a) in the marginal heading, for the words and figures ‘‘sections 3 and 14’’ the words, figures and letter ‘‘sections 3A and 14’’ shall be substituted; (b) for the words and figures ‘‘sections 3 and 14’’, the words, figures and letter ‘‘sections 3A and 14’’ shall be substituted.

In section 13 of the principal Act, for the word ‘‘children’’, wherever it occurs, the word ‘‘adolescent’’ shall be substituted.

(a) for sub-section (1), the following sub-sections shall be substituted, namely:— “(1) Whoever employs any child or permits any child to work in contravention of the provisions of section 3 shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than six months but which may extend to two years, or with fine which shall not be less than Rs. 20,000 but which may extend to Rs. 50,000, or with both: Provided that the parents or guardians of such children shall not be punished unless they permit such child for commercial purposes in contravention of the provisions of section 3. (IA) Whoever employs any adolescent or permits any adolescent to work in contravention of the provisions of section 3A shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than six months but which may extend to two years or with fine which shall not be less than Rs. 20,000 but which may extend to Rs. 50,000, or with both: Provided that the parents or guardians of such adolescent shall not be punished unless they permit such adolescent to work in contravention of the provisions of section 3A. (1B) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-sections (1) and (1A) the parents or guardians of any child or adolescent referred to in section 3 or section 3A, shall not be liable for punishment, in case of the first offence.”. (b) for sub-section (2), the following sub-sections shall be substituted, namely:— “(2) Whoever, having been convicted of an offence under section 3 or section 3A commits a like offence afterwards, he shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than one year but which may extend to three years. (2A) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (2), the parents or guardian having been convicted of an offence under section 3 or section 3A, commits a like offence afterwards, he shall be punishable with a fine which may extend to Rs. 10,000.”. (c) clauses (a), (b) and (c) of sub-section (3) shall be omitted.

In section 11 of the principal Act,— (a) for the word ‘‘children’’, the word ‘‘adolescent’’ shall be substituted. (b) for the word ‘‘child’’, wherever it occurs the word ‘‘adolescent’’ shall be substituted.

In section 12 of the principal Act,— (a) in the marginal heading, for the words and figures ‘‘sections 3 and 14’’ the words, figures and letter ‘‘sections 3A and 14’’ shall be substituted; (b) for the words and figures ‘‘sections 3 and 14’’, the words, figures and letter ‘‘sections 3A and 14’’ shall be substituted.

In section 13 of the principal Act, for the word ‘‘children’’, wherever it occurs, the word ‘‘adolescent’’ shall be substituted.

In section 18 of the principal Act, in sub-section (2),— (i) clause (a) shall be relettered as clause (b) thereof and before clause (b), as so relettered, the following clause shall be inserted, namely:— (a) the conditions and the safety measures under clause (b) of sub-section (2) and other activities under clause (b) to Explanation of sub-section (2) of section 3; (ii) in clause (b), as so relettered, for the words "Child Labour Technical Advisory Committee", the words “Technical Advisory Committee” shall be substituted. (iii) clauses (b), (c) and (d) shall be relettered as clauses (c), (d) and (e) thereof and in clause (c) as so relettered, for the word "child", the word "adolescent" shall be substituted; (iv) after clause (e), as so relettered, the following clauses shall be inserted, namely:— "(f) the manner of payment of amount to the child or adolescent under sub-section (4) of section 14B; (g) the manner of composition of the offence and payment of amount to the appropriate Government under sub-section (1) of section 14D; (h) the powers to be exercised and the duties to be performed by the officer specified and the local limits within which such powers or duties shall be carried out under section 17A.”.

After section 14 of the principal Act, the following sections shall be inserted, namely:— “14A. Notwithstanding anything contained in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, any offence committed by an employer and punishable under section 3 or section 3A shall be cognizable. 14B. (1) The appropriate Government shall constitute a Fund in every district or for two or more districts to be called the Child and Adolescent Labour Rehabilitation Fund to which the amount of the fine realized from the employer of the child and adolescent, within the jurisdiction of such district or districts, shall be credited. (2) The appropriate Government shall credit an amount of Rs. 15,000 to the Fund for each child or adolescent for whom the fine amount has been credited under sub-section (1). (3) The amount credited to the Fund under sub-sections (1) and (2) shall be deposited in such banks or invested in such manner, as the appropriate Government may decide. (4) The amount deposited or invested, as the case may be under sub-section (3), and the interest accrued on it, shall be paid to the child or adolescent in whose favour such amount is credited, in such manner as may be prescribed. Explanation:— For the purposes of appropriate Government, the Central Government shall include the Administrator or the Lieutenant Governor of a Union territory under article 239A of the Constitution. 14C. The child or adolescent, who is employed in contravention of the provisions of this Act and rescued, shall be rehabilitated in accordance with the laws for the time being in force. 14D. (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, the District Magistrate may, on the application of the accused person, compound any offence committed for the first time by him, under sub-section (3) of section 14 or any offence committed by an accused person being parent or a guardian, in such manner and on payment of such amount to the appropriate Government, as may be prescribed.”.

“17A. The appropriate Government may confer such powers and impose such duties on a District Magistrate as may be necessary, to ensure that the provisions of this Act are properly carried out and the District Magistrate may specify the officer, subordinate to him, who shall exercise all or any of the powers, and perform all or any of the duties, so conferred or imposed and the local limits within which such powers or duties shall be carried out by the officer as may be prescribed. 17B. The appropriate Government shall make or cause to be made periodic inspection of the places at which the employment of children is prohibited and hazardous occupations or processes are carried out at such intervals as it thinks fit, and monitor the issues, relating to the provisions of this Act.”.

1. (i) clause (a) shall be relettered as clause (b) thereof and before clause (b), as so relettered, the following clause shall be inserted, namely:—

1. (a) the conditions and the safety measures under clause (b) of sub-section

1. (2) and other activities under clause (b) to Explanation of sub-section (2) of section 3;
   • (ii) in clause (b), as so relettered, for the words "Child Labour Technical Advisory Committee", the words “Technical Advisory Committee” shall be substituted.
   • (iii) clauses (b), (c) and (d) shall be relettered as clauses (c), (d) and (e) thereof and in clause (c) as so relettered, for the word "child", the word "adolescent" shall be substituted;
   • (iv) after clause (e), as so relettered, the following clauses shall be inserted, namely:— "(f) the manner of payment of amount to the child or adolescent under sub-section (4) of section 14B;
   • (g) the manner of composition of the offence and payment of amount to the appropriate Government under sub-section (1) of section section 14D;
   • (h) the powers to be exercised and the duties to be performed by the officer specified and the local limits within which such powers or duties shall be carried out under section 17A.”.

District Magistrate to implement the provisions. Inspection and monitor- ing.

In the principal Act, for the Schedule, the following Schedule shall be substituted, namely:—

‘THE SCHEDULE

(See section 3A)

1. (1) Mines.
2. (2) Inflammable substances or explosives.
3. (3) Hazardous process. Explanation.—For the purposes of this Schedule, “hazardous process” has the meaning assigned to it in clause (cb) of the Factories Act, 1948.’.

63 of 1948.

Substitution of new Schedule for the Schedule. ———— DR. G. NARAYANA RAJU,

Secretary to the Govt. of India.

GMGIPMRND—2030GI(S3)—30-07-2016. PRINTED BY THE GENERAL MANAGER, GOVERNMENT OF INDIA PRESS, MINTO ROAD, NEW DELHI AND PUBLISHED BY THE CONTROLLER OF PUBLICATIONS, DELHI—2016. 6THE GAZETTE OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY[PART II— SEC. 1]