Pointing to the legislative vacuum in protecting millions of house helps from exploitation, SC on Wednesday directed Centre to constitute an expert committee to draft a legal framework for safeguarding the dignity and safety of this huge, essential, yet unorganised workforce, and then enact a pan-India law, reports Dhananjay Mahapatra. Hinging its decision on a case of torture, exploitation and trafficking of a domestic help in Dehradun, the bench said, “The reason for this harassment and rampant abuse, which seems to be prevalent throughout the country, is the legal vacuum which exists vis-a-vis the rights and protection of domestic workers.”