PANAJI
The Bombay High Court at Goa on Friday received a report from the North District Child Welfare Committee (CWC) after conducting an inspection of a Child Care Institution (CCI) run by NGO El Shaddai in Assagao.
The inspection revealed that 15 children under the age of six were housed at the institution without the mandatory orders from the CWC. Advocate General Devidas Pangam said that during the inspection, the CWC also found that none of the children were facing any immediate issues. However, concerns were raised regarding the absence of proper documentation for housing them in the institution.
The government assured the Court that the CWC would speak with the children over the weekend to ensure they are not facing any problem and if they have parents or guardians who can be contacted. Based on these interviews, the CWC will decide on appropriate welfare measures and issue necessary orders.
The Court also acknowledged the government submission that the CCI fully cooperated with the inspection. To allow the CWC to conduct further inquiries, the Court has scheduled the next hearing for September 17.
The Court is hearing a suo motu Public Interest Litigation based on a complaint by the CWC to the Anjuna police that the CCI has been housing children between the ages of two and ten years without CWC orders. Earlier this month, the Committee requested the local police to file a First Information Report against the institution after its management was allegedly caught red-handed with unauthorized custody of over two dozen children. The complainant also raised concerns about the origin of the children and why they were housed without informing the CWC.
