In a disturbing incident in Delhi's Dwarka, a pilot and her husband, who both work for an airline, were brutally thrashed by a mob. The reason behind the attack was their alleged employment of a 10-year-old girl as a domestic help, whom they also reportedly subjected to torture.

Shocking videos captured the scene, showing the pilot being repeatedly slapped, pulled by her hair, and hit by several women while she begged for help. Despite her pleas and apologies, the assault continued. Her husband also faced a separate assault by a group of men as he tried to come to his wife's rescue.

According to reports, the couple had hired the 10-year-old girl for domestic chores around two months ago. Today, a relative of the girl noticed injury marks on her arms and informed the police. It is believed that the girl was subjected to abuse under the suspicion of theft.

As news of the alleged torture spread among local residents and they saw the visible injury marks on the girl, a mob formed and attacked the couple. Later, the police arrived at the scene and arrested the couple. A case has been registered, and a thorough investigation is underway.

Employing children as domestic help is strictly prohibited in India, but unfortunately, this rule is often violated. The authorities have conducted a medical examination of the girl, revealing burn marks on her arms. She has also received counseling and support. Based on her statement, the police have registered a complaint under various stringent sections of the Indian Penal Code, the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, and the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act.

This incident highlights the urgent need to protect vulnerable children from exploitation and abuse. The emotions of disgust and sympathy arise for the young victim who endured such cruelty. It is crucial for society to stand against such acts and ensure the well-being and safety of every child.

1. Indian Penal Code (IPC): The Indian Penal Code is the primary criminal code of India. It is a comprehensive code, intended to cover all substantive aspects of criminal law. The code was drafted in 1860 and came into force in British India during the early British Raj period in 1862. However, it has since been amended several times to accommodate changes in society and its norms. The IPC has 23 chapters containing 511 sections in total, which define crimes and specify the punishments for them, ranging from fines to imprisonment, life imprisonment, and even the death penalty. The offenses under IPC are divided into two categories: cognizable offenses and non-cognizable offenses. Cognizable offenses are those where the police can arrest without a warrant, while non-cognizable offenses require a warrant for arrest.

2. Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986: This Act is a legislative action to prohibit the engagement of children in certain employments and to regulate the conditions of work of children in certain other employments. The Act defines a child as a person who has not completed their 14th year of age. The Act prohibits the employment of children in certain specified hazardous occupations and processes and regulates the working conditions in others. The punishment for employing child labour is imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than three months but which may extend to one year, or with fine which shall not be less than ten thousand rupees but which may extend to twenty thousand rupees, or with both.

3. Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015: This Act is a primary legal framework for juvenile justice in India. The Act provides for the protection of children in conflict with the law and children in need of care and protection by catering to their basic needs through proper care, protection, development, treatment, social re-integration, and by adopting a child-friendly approach. The Act categorizes the crimes committed by juveniles into petty, serious, and heinous crimes, and the punishment varies accordingly. For heinous crimes committed by a child aged between 16-18 years, the Act allows the Juvenile Justice Board to assess if the crime was committed as a 'child' or as an 'adult'. This Act has been controversial due to its provision allowing the trial of juveniles in conflict with the law as adults for heinous offenses.