Circle inspector apologises for detaining labour official

NELLORE: Finding himself in a tight spot, the controversial Gudur rural circle inspector, K Vema Reddy, on Friday tendered an apology to the labour department official whom he had detained in connection with a case pertaining to freeing a boy from bonded labour. He wrote an apology letter to sub-collector Nivas and requested for pardon.
Inspector Vema Reddy was facing serious charges for detaining assistant labour officer M Koteswara Rao for freeing a child worker from the clutches of a local Congress leader and landlord M Mohan Reddy.As Koteswara Rao belongs to the ST community, the department officials across the region voiced their concern about the safety of their colleague and demanded immediate action against the inspector. tnn
Joint commissioner of labour (JCL) K Yella Rao hurriedly met Guntur range IG Ravi Gupta and submitted a representation seeking disciplinary action against the inspector. Realising that the issue was becoming a major controversy, inspector Vema Reddy rushed to the labour department official asking for pardon.
When the senior officials expressed their helplessness as the case was being probed by the sub-collector. Then the CI met the sub-collector and said he was ignorant of the Child Labour Act. He said the locals themselves resisted the labour department official's visit to the village.
With sub-collector Nivas turning down his explanation, inspector gave an apology letter in writing. Sub-collector Nivas, however, decided to report the matter to the IG and Nellore SP.
Meanwhile, the labour department booked a case against landlord Mohan Reddy for inciting the CI and villagers to revolt against its official, under the Child Labour (prohibition and regulation) Act, 1986.
A case under section 3(1) was slapped under the child labour act and notices were served. A jail term of three years or a fine of Rs 10,000 can be imposed if the charges are proved under section 3(1) of child labour (prohibition& regulation) Act.