Pilibhit: The legal cell of the child welfare committee (CWC) here served a notice on BJP candidate Divya Mishra, who is contesting the urban local bodies’ election for the post of chairperson of Pilibhit municipal council, for allegedly engaging a disabled minor boy at her election office for serving tea to workers and supporters and doing other chores.Terming this as a violation of child labour law, the CWC chairperson has directed the BJP candidate to appear before the committee in person to present her clarification. The notice was served on Tuesday by hand.According to CWC chairperson Zeenat Jahan Begum, she had received complaints along with video clippings sent by some locals who said the minor boy, who is about 12 years old and is mute, had been engaged by the BJP candidate to serve tea and manage other manual work at her election office on November 14, when her election office was inaugurated.Zeenat Jahan said the offence was grave as the boy was hired on Children’s Day which was specifically aimed at safeguarding the rights of children and protecting them from harassment. The boy would be sent to the district government hospital for verification of his age and his muteness, she said.The chairperson said the BJP candidate would be brought under the ambit of legal action in case her clarification was found unsatisfactory.When TOI tried to contact Divya Mishra, her husband Dr Yogendra Nath Mishra attended to the call. He said his wife was busy with public meetings and could not be contacted in the matter.BJP district unit president Suresh Gangwar, however, said Divya Mishra would appear before CWC on Wednesday to file her clarification in compliance with the given directions.

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