New Delhi: Several states including Delhi on Wednesday revealed the condition of Children Shelter homes in its report to the apex court. After reviewing the reports, the Supreme Court (SC) postponed the matter for further hearing on July 21.
According to reports, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Assam, and Gujarat submitted their status report to a bench led by Justice L Nageswara Rao. While the hearing started, the bench asked the states about the number of children staying in the state-run shelter homes. Gaurav Aggarwala, Amicus Curiae appointed by the SC had also joined the hearing.
Andhra Pradesh’s counsel Advocate Mahfooz Nazki submitted the conditions of the state’s shelter homes. When hearing the numbers, the Bench surprised that how these much of children were accommodated into the homes.
“Is it not against the law,” Justice L N Rao questioned during the observation. Nazki said that parents are willingly joining their children because of their situations.
The Amicus Curiae apprised the SC bench and asked AP to coordinate with the Children Welfare Committee. Aggarwala asked to ensure the monthly stipend for Children.
Advocate Nazki argued that a compliance report has been submitted by the AP before the High Court which will be submitted before the SC on next hearing.
The bench asked why the government should not extend stipend as many children are being sent back home from shelter homes due to the pandemic. AP replied that they are providing rations.
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When the status of Assam came before the bench, Amicus Curiae said about 500 out of 1800 students who stayed in the shelter homes have gone to their houses. “They need to be followed up. If they require any financial assistance, it can be done by the state,” Aggarwala apprised.
When the bench asked whether the government is keeping an eye on the released children, the Assam’s counsel said it has been a complex task and the government is trying its best to trace them. The bench asked to provide an online teaching mechanism for students and urged to submit a report on the next hearing.
Bihar submitted it has been giving Rs.1000 as a stipend to the children of shelter homes. The SC which lauded the state has asked to file necessary reports about the 873 children who are in conflict with the law. It is noted Bihar had 1573 children in shelter homes.
Gaurav Aggarwala submitted there are various issues in tracking the children who have a conflict with the law in Delhi. The bench asked how they are monitoring the children have a conflict with the law. The judges also asked how the Delhi government is imparting education to the children who have a conflict with the law. It asked Delhi’s counsel to file a detailed report as the number of children with conflict of law is high in the UT.
Gujarat and Chattisgarh have also submitted a report on this issue. As Haryana’s compliance report stands before the High Court, the SC said it will not pass orders. The bench said that the status report of other states will be reviewed on July 21 and the matter was postponed to July 21.
After several children stayed in children shelter home at Chennai Royapuram tested positive for COVID-19 in April, the Supreme Court initiated Suo-Moto cognisance against this issue.
It passed directions to all the states to submit a status report on the states shelter homes. The top court has recently noticed that a few children in Kanpur were also tested positive for the virus.
After appointing Gaurav Aggarwala as the amicus curiae, the SC urged the states to submit status report while the bench sat last time for the hearing. The bench directed the state of Uttar Pradesh to file an additional affidavit as Kanpur children shelter home had corona positive children.
