Panel to probe orphanage conditions

The Delhi High Court on Friday appointed a committee to probe into complaints that stated the conditions of a city orphanage “appalling”.

The Delhi high court on Friday appointed a committee to probe into complaints that stated the conditions of a city orphanage “appalling”.

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A Bench headed by Justice S Ravindra Bhat issued the order after getting to know that orphanage Apna Ghar — run by an NGO — housed 30-odd children in an utterly dilapidated condition with very low level of hygiene

The committee appointed by the court includes Director of the Child Welfare Committee (CWC), concerned DCP of the area, a child psychologist, a pediatrician and
Secretary of the Delhi Legal Services Authority.

The high court has asked the committee to inspect the premises of Apna Ghar, seize all the records and also find out why there was no proper monitoring of the orphanage by the CWC, which granted it a license to run the children’s home in the first place.

The court was pained to hear that some children were neglected despite suffering from serious ailments.

“Lack of any record, the almost primitive conditions in which the kitchen is maintained, reveals utter lack of neglect by authorities,” the bench observed.