PANJIM, JULY 13
The affairs of Apna Ghar housing minors and commercial sex workers would be under severe scrutiny after Goa bench of Bombay High Court asked principle district and sessions judge to submit extensive report.
The double bench on Tuesday hearing the petition filed by NGO, State Child Abuse Now (SCAN), directed the principal district and session judge to visit Apna Ghar and prepare extensive report by July 31.
The High Court had turned letter by SCAN into public interest litigation (PIL), which had cited the information available under Right to Information regarding state run Apna Ghar.
The NGO had complained about the children from other States languishing in the Goa State custody for years without any inquiry or rehabilitation.
The State and the State appointed child welfare committee (CWC) were made respondent to the said petition.
The letter was based on the RTI received from the State which showed that children were not repatriated back to their native place in spite of clear address given by the children.
Emidio Pinho (Child Protection Coordinator) represented SCAN in person before the High Court.
SCAN brought to the notice of the Court about the various Human Rights violation to the children from other States admitted in State run home Apna Ghar – Merces. All illegalities and irregularities were pointed out to the High Court done by the CWC and the State.
