Taking strong exception to child labour in court premises, a magistrate here has ordered an enquiry into the case of a minor boy allegedly employed by a caterer at the Rohini Courts Complex in New Delhi.

The offence came to light on Monday when Metropolitan Magistrate S S Rathi, while going to his chamber, saw a minor boy serving lunch to various judges' chambers.

Finding the boy apparently minor, the magistrate then asked him to wait there and called for his employer by sending a messenger.

Sumit, his employer, denied that the boy was minor and later appeared with his counsel in the court.      

Taking cognizance of the matter, the magistrate has directed the police to get ossification test (determination of age by examining bone formation) conducted on the boy to ascertain his age.

The police has been asked to submit its report by May 19. Noticeably, child labour, in all its forms, has been banned by the government through a recently passed law.