Legal framework:• Article 21: … Right to Life. • Article 24 -”prohibition of employment of children in factories, etc No child below the age of fourteen years shall be employed to work in any factory or mine or be engaged in any hazardous employment” Directive Principles of State Policy Article 39 … (e) … the tender age of children are not abused… and not forced by economic necessity to work which is unsuited to their age or strength; (f) that children are given opportunities and facilities to develop in a healthy manner and in conditions of freedom and dignity and that childhood…protected against exploitation and against moral and material abandonment. National Legislation for protecting children from child labour:- Child labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act 1986. - The Factories Act 1948. The court in M.C.Mehta v. State of T.N noted that menace of child labour was widespread. Therefore, it issued wide ranging directions in the context of employment and exploitation of children in Sivakasi prohibiting employment of children below the age of 14 and making arrangements for their education by creating a fund and providing employment to the parents or abled bodied adults in the family. These directions were reiterated in Bandhua Mukti Morcha v. Union of India, concerning the employment of children in carpet weaving industry in India. The Police Officers are expected to take timely and suitable action in each of such reported incidents, particularly if, the child labourer belongs to the weaker sections of the society. The Commission issued guidelines on Bonded/forced labour and the role of police in one of its recent publications.30 C. Juveniles and Police It would be relevant to mention the ambiguity relating to the age of children under various legislations 30 http://nhrc.nic.in/Publications/guideline_for_police_personnel_on_various_HR_issues Manual on Human Rights for Police Officers 47