The Haryana Human Rights Commission has decided to issue a showcause notice to two employees of Shishu Grih, a state-run orphanage at Panchkula for negligence because of which a girl inmate had fallen off an official vehicle and was injured while going to school last year.
After the incident of April 30 last, taking suo motu cognizance of media reports, the HHRC had sent a notice to the Haryana Council for Child Welfare that runs the orphanage, and subsequently received a report from it.
The council report said that the superintendent of the orphanage, Kamla Rathee, informed that 10 inmates studied in a private school in Panchkula who were being brought in the official vehicle of Shishu Grih from the school when the incident took place.
Virender Singh, chowkidar-cum-driver, was driving the vehicle along with Rajinder Kaur, an 'ayah' (caretaker), who was escorting the children. At a speed-breaker near Sector 15, Panchkula, the back door of the vehicle suddenly opened, as a result of which two girls - aged about 4 - fell off the vehicle, the report read. One of the kids escaped unhurt, while another sustained injuries on her chin and left knee and was taken to General Hospital, Panchkula, where she was given first aid and discharged, it said.
The report added that the council had issued showcause notice to Rathee for her negligence in making the schedules of the van for picking up the children from the school and was asked to be careful in future. The police had also registered a case against Singh. The council had also deputed Poonam Sood, adoption officer, to conduct surprise inspections of the orphanage.
{{/usCountry}}The report added that the council had issued showcause notice to Rathee for her negligence in making the schedules of the van for picking up the children from the school and was asked to be careful in future. The police had also registered a case against Singh. The council had also deputed Poonam Sood, adoption officer, to conduct surprise inspections of the orphanage.
{{/usCountry}}However, the HHRC has now said that it was "crystal clear" that the child sustained injuries because of the negligence of Rathee and Singh, hence a notice to both of them, asking why a suitable amount of compensation not be awarded to the injured child, is to be issued.
Justice HS Bhalla, member of the HHRC, in his order has also asked Sood to be summoned on March 13 to assist the commission in the matter.