The Supreme Court today took exception to the failure of states and union territories for their failure to respond to NHRC's suggestions on eradication of child and bonded labour.

It warned their failure to do so by the next date of hearing would compel it to summon the law secretaries and chief secretaries to the court.

"In these circumstances, last opportunity is given for filing the response, failing which the law secretaries and chief secretaries will have to be present before the court," a Bench comprising Chief Justice S H Kapadia and Justices K S Radhakrishnan and Swatanter Kumar said.

It asked the apex court registry to send the order to the Chief secretaries of all states, barring West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh, which have already filed their response.

The court posted the matter for further hearing on August 20.

NHRC had on November 11, 2009, filed a report suggesting some steps for eradication of bonded and child labour.

The Bench was hearing a PIL filed by an NGO, Public Union for Civil Liberties, in 1985 bringing the issue of child and bonded labour in Tamil Nadu before it.

The apex court has been monitoring the developments on the issue and had passed several orders over the years.