New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has agreed to quash an FIR against a couple, who had employed a minor for household work, and directed them to plant 100 trees and pay ₹1.5 lakh to the victim.
Justice Najmi Waziri also directed two other persons, who were agents and through whom the minor girl was employed at the couple's house, to offer manual labour for plantation and care of the trees.
The court imposed a fine of ₹1.5 lakh on the couple and ₹10,000 each on the two agents and directed that the amount be paid to the minor.
"In the circumstances, the FIR and all proceedings emanating from there are quashed subject to costs of ₹1.5 lakh to be paid by petitioners No. 1 and 2 (couple) to respondent No.2 (victim)...," the court said.
The court noted that as an expression of contrition for causing unnecessary burden upon the administrative machinery engaged in the maintenance of law and order, the couple submitted they wanted to do some social work.
It directed them to plant 50 trees each in Delhi and were asked to report to the deputy conservator of forests (south) here who shall assign them duties of planting the trees in the Central Ridge for 10 working days in compensatory afforestation or other schemes.
The court said the trees shall be of deciduous indigenous variety with a nursery age of three-and-a-half years and a height of at least six feet.
Depending upon the soil type and topography, the court said the forest officer may consider plantation of Gular (Cluster Fig), Kadamba (Burflower Tree), Pilkhan (White Fig), Jaamun (Black Plum), Bargad (Banyan Tree), Mango, Amaltas (Golden Shower), Mahua (Butter Tree).