A Congress MLA in Rajasthan has landed himself in trouble for bringing 20 minors to donate blood at a camp in Chomu town, 35 km from here, on August 20.
A court in Chomu has ordered the police to register a first information report against local MLA Bhagwan Saini, doctors and technicians for letting the children below 18 donate blood at a camp organised on the occasion of Rajiv Gandhi’s birth anniversary that day.
Children below 18 are not permitted to donate blood but the MLA allegedly forged documents to show that the children were not minors.
Among those accused is the principal of the school where the blood donation camp was held.
Ajay Kumar Jain, petitioner’s counsel, said, “We argued for imposition of charges under sections pertaining to committing forgery to prepare the documents for blood donation. The documents had wrong entries related to age of the minors.”
The charges against the MLA and others include committing cruelty on minor children by tricking them into donating blood, Jain said.
Jaipur District Collector Kuldeep Ranka said on Tuesday after receiving an inquiry report, “Of the 27 school children who donated blood at the camp, about 20 were minors.” He said this was established after checking the records at the schools where the children were studying.
{{/usCountry}}Jaipur District Collector Kuldeep Ranka said on Tuesday after receiving an inquiry report, “Of the 27 school children who donated blood at the camp, about 20 were minors.” He said this was established after checking the records at the schools where the children were studying.
{{/usCountry}}Child rights activists expressed satisfaction over the court’s decision. Govind Beniwal of Rajasthan Labour Watch said, “The Child Welfare Committee of the district should now swing into action and see if the victims need counseling.”