The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) will hold a consolidated online hearing on 9 July to examine 86 cases of alleged bonded labour in brick kilns across Haryana, with Chairperson Justice V. Ramasubramanian presiding. The Commission has summoned senior state officials to appear and present action-taken reports, signalling a sharp escalation in federal oversight of labour rights compliance in the state.

Who Must Appear and What They Must Explain

The NHRC has directed Haryana's State Chief Secretary or his nominee, the Labour Commissioner, and all concerned District Magistrates (DMs) to attend the virtual session. Authorities are expected to furnish detailed reports covering the identification and release of bonded labourers, as well as their registration on the e-Shram portal — the Centre's social security platform for unorganised workers.

The Commission will specifically assess the steps taken by DMs on complaints forwarded by the NHRC, and evaluate compliance with the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976, and Supreme Court directions in the landmark Bandhua Mukti Morcha and Asiad Workers' cases.

Rehabilitation and Recurrence Prevention Under Scrutiny

Beyond immediate rescue, the NHRC will also review the status of rehabilitation packages for freed labourers — including financial aid, skill training, and access to alternate livelihoods. The progress of e-Shram registrations and district-level measures to prevent future exploitation are also on the agenda, according to an official statement.

Context: NHRC's Expanding Role in Bonded Labour Monitoring

The Supreme Court formally assigned monitoring of compliance with the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act and related court orders to the NHRC on 11 May 1997 — a mandate the Commission has exercised with increasing frequency in recent years. Notably, in April 2025, Justice Ramasubramanian presided over a similar online hearing covering 216 cases of alleged bonded labour in brick kilns across multiple districts of Uttar Pradesh. The Haryana hearing follows that pattern, suggesting a systematic state-by-state review is under way.

Brick kilns have historically been among the most vulnerable worksites for bonded labour in India, often trapping migrant workers — many from economically marginalised communities — through advance payment systems that function as debt bondage.

What Happens Next

The outcome of the 9 July hearing is expected to determine whether the NHRC issues fresh directions to Haryana authorities or escalates non-compliant cases to the Supreme Court. The Commission's scrutiny of e-Shram registrations will also test whether rescued workers are being meaningfully integrated into the formal social security net — or whether compliance remains largely on paper.