‘Children homes run by minorities need inspection’

The Madras High Court has held that child protection homes run by minority communities are liable to be inspected and a chart be prepared that no misuse takes place. 

The order by the first bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Pushpa Sathyanarayan had come in wake of ChangeIndia represented by A Narayanan raising the aspect that there is misconception on the aspect of minority rights when it comes to children who are with child protection homes run by the minority communities. 

Narayanan had also submitted that the State Government failed to inspect these homes and Madrasas and that he had come across a couple of cases of misuse, where even a child had lost his life. 

Earlier, the bench while passing orders on the main plea, which sought to protect the well-being rights and the future of institutionalised children, had constituted the Court’s Juvenile Justice Committee to go into the issues. Based on this, the committee along with the petitioner had come up with 16 recommendations. 

On Monday, the Government pleader told the court that suggestions made have been accepted and sought time to close unauthorised houses as necessary instructions have to offered to the district collectors. 

Following this, the bench granted three months and observed that this is not an adverse litigation and therefore in principle there are no disagreements. 

The issue is only implementation. The bench then posted the case to March 31, when the Status of the 16 recommendations would be known.