In the case about bonded labourers in Palghar, the Thane collector is likely to face coercive process under Section 13 of Protection of Human Rights Act (PHRA), 1933 for failing to respond to the notice and a final reminder issued by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) within stipulated time. The NHRC has taken up the sensitive issue of tribals trapped as bonded labourers which mid-day highlighted last year in August. The collector of Thane, however, says he has replied to the notice.

“We were moved after reading mid-day's report on the feudal lords of Bhiwandi where 18 tribal families comprising 43 members were subjected to inhuman treatment including public flogging, starvation and enslavement for years in Pilanje Budruk Chinchpada village of Thane district. So, on August 26, 2021, we filed a complaint with the NHRC which took up the case on September 15 last year,” said advocate Dilip Chakma, the executive director of Indigenous Rights Advocacy Centre.