http://JUDIS.NIC.IN SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Page 1 of 2  

PETITIONER: M.C. MEHTA

       Vs.

RESPONDENT: STATE OF TAMIL NADU AND ORS.

DATE OF JUDGMENT31/10/1990

BENCH: MISRA, RANGNATH (CJ) BENCH: MISRA, RANGNATH (CJ) KANIA, M.H.

CITATION:  1991 AIR  417            1990 SCR  Supl. (2) 518  1991 SCC  (1) 283        JT 1990 (4)   263  1990 SCALE  (2)947

ACT:     Constitution  of  India: Articles 39(f) &  45:  Children employees  of match factories of Sivakasi--Safety  and  well being of--Directions regarding.

HEADNOTE:     In terms of Article 39(f) of the Constitution  childhood and youth are to be protected against exploitation and given facilities  to  develop  in a healthy manner.  In  terms  of Article  45 they are meant to be subjected to free and  com- pulsory  education until they complete the age of 14  years. Economic  necessity,  however, forces grown up  children  to seek employment.     The  petitioner assailed the employment of  children  in match  factories  in the respondent State by way  of  public interest  litigation.  The  manufacturing  process  in  such factories  is  hazardous one so much so  that  almost  every year,  notwithstanding improved techniques and special  care taken accidents including fatal cases occur. Working  condi- tions involve health hazards too. Disposing of the writ petition, the Court,     HELD: 1. Employment of children within the match  facto- ries directly connected with the manufacturing process  upto final production of match sticks or fireworks should not  at all  be  permitted. They can, however, be  employed  in  the process of packing which should be done in an area away from the  place  of manufacture to avoid  exposure  to  accident. [520D-G]     2.  They  should be given at least 60 per  cent  of  the prescribed minimum wage for an adult employee in the  facto- ries doing the same job. [521A]     3.  Under  the Factories Act, there is a  statutory  re- quirement for providing facilities for recreation and  medi- cal  attention. The respondent State is directed to  enforce these two aspects so that the basic requirements are attend- ed to. Attention may also be given to ensure 519 provision  of  a  basic diet to these  children  during  the working  period  with  a view  to  ensuring  sound  physical growth. Facilities for general education as also job orient- ed education should be made available to them and the school

http://JUDIS.NIC.IN SUPREME COURT OF INDIA Page 2 of 2  

time should be so adjusted that employment is not  affected. [521G-H]     4. The State shall take appropriate steps in the  matter of  creating the welfare fund and finalising the  method  of contribution and collection thereof by 1st January, 1991  so that  the consolidated money would be available  for  imple- menting welfare schemes. [521E-F]     5. The State shah also ensure that every employee  work- ing  in these match factories is compulsorily insured for  a sum  of  Rs.50,000.  The premium for  the  insurance  policy should be the liability of the employer to meet as a  condi- tion of service. [522A-B]     6.  A committee consisting of the District Judge of  the area,  the  District Magistrate of the  District,  a  public activist  operating  in the area, a  representative  of  the employees and local labour officer to oversee all the direct ions of the Court. [522D]

JUDGMENT: