Mumbai: A shocking incident from Andheri East has raised serious concerns over child safety and violations of labour laws. A minor was allegedly employed to perform a hazardous task of cutting overgrown tree branches amidst heavy rains on June 14, 2025, at Chakravarti Ashok Co-operative Housing Society Ltd., located near Hotel Amar at JB Nagar Circle. The incident was brought to light by the Watchdog Foundation, which has formally lodged a complaint with the Mumbai Police Commissioner and the BMC Commissioner.
Speaking to The Free Press Journal, Adv. Godfrey Pimenta, Trustee of the Watchdog Foundation, said, “We have filed a complaint against the managing committee of the society for engaging a child in dangerous work during the monsoon season. This is a gross violation of child labour laws and puts the child’s life at serious risk.”
According to the complaint, the minor was seen cutting tree branches while it was raining, exposing him to life-threatening risks such as falling debris, electrocution from nearby power lines, and harsh weather conditions. The Foundation has strongly condemned the society’s actions, highlighting that this employment directly violates the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986, which bans children under 14 from engaging in hazardous occupations.
Additionally, the complaint refers to the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, under which such an act is categorized as child abuse and exploitation. The Foundation has demanded legal action against the managing committee and an immediate halt to the use of minors for such tasks in housing societies.
Meanwhile, Mumbai Police have reported significant progress in combating child labour across the city. From January 2020 to June 11, 2025, police have successfully rescued 412 child labourers from various locations. In connection with these cases, 182 FIRs have been registered, and 220 people have been arrested for employing minors illegally.
The incident from Andheri has once again drawn attention to the persistent issue of child labour and the urgent need for enforcement of laws to protect vulnerable children across the city.
