Secretary pulled up for absence at court hearing

The first bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice M Sathyanarayana took strong exception to the officer’s absence and said, “The Secretary, Social Welfare Department, who was required to be present, is not present stating that he is unwell. The Government Pleader states that the Director, Social Welfare Department, is present. On being called, the Director, Social Welfare Department, is also absent.” 

Chiding the officer for not having the courtesy to be present when the matter is called, the first bench directed him to deposit the money with the Mediation and Conciliation Centre. The bench directed both the Secretary and Director of the Social Welfare Department to be present in court February 22 when the case is heard again. The order came in pursuance of a Public Interest Litigation moved by ChangeIndia director A Narayanan. He has contended that 27 government orphanages and 174 private destitute homes in the state are not registered under the Juvenile Justice Act. Similarly, though 2,054 homes have been identified by the government, only 1,527 have been brought under the purview of the social welfare department and there is silence over the remaining homes. 

He submitted that the Madras High Court through an order in October last year had directed the implementation of 16 specific points to improve the situation. 

But the issue is dragging on even as innocent defenceless children are being sexually and economically exploited in hundreds of illegal homes by unscrupulous persons.