New Delhi, April 18 (IANS) The Supreme Court Monday directed the central government to issue a notification prohibiting the employment of children in Indian circuses.

 
 "In order to protect the fundamental rights of these children under Article 21 of the constitution, we direct the centre to issue suitable notification prohibiting their employment in circuses," the apex court bench of Justice Dalbir Bhandari and Justice Deepak Verma said.
 
 The court said the children being rescued should be kept in separate rooms or may be handed over to their parents if they were willing after due verification.
 
 It directed the human resource development and the women and children development ministries to prepare a scheme for rehabilitation of the rescued children. The court said the ministries will have to file compliance reports before June 19.