To curb child abuse, Judges to inspect care centres

In the wake of shocking reports of child abuse at child care centres in the state, Punjab and Haryana High Court —appointed legal services authority (LSA) has directed district and sessions judges in each district to inspect these homes for any violation of child rights. Deevakar Anand reports.

In the wake of shocking reports of child abuse at child care centres in the state, Punjab and Haryana High Court —appointed legal services authority (LSA) has directed district and sessions judges in each district to inspect these homes for any violation of child rights.

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In a strongly-worded letter, the member secretary of the state LSA recently asked judges to submit a report on any violations spotted or sensed in children homes, observation homes and Nari Niketans.

Following the high court directive, a team of the Gurgaon LSA, led by secretary Narinder Kaur, would inspect nearly eight shelter homes in the city on Friday.
With 2011-12 being celebrated as the year of the “Rights of Child”, children are one of the target groups and entitled to free legal services, the LSA letter reads.

A National Commission for Protection and Child Rights (NCPCR) raid on May 9 exposed how girls were routinely disrobed and beaten up with iron rods at the state-recognised shelter home, Bharat Sangha, in Rohtak. In the first week of May, several cases of rape came to light where a caretaker had been abusing minors at a Gurgaon orphanage, Suparna ka Angan.