PANAJI
The High Court of Bombay at Goa has directed the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) of Dharashiv district in Maharashtra to grant the court-appointed amicus curiae access to the personal files of 14 children rescued in Goa, while ensuring their identities remain confidential.
The Division Bench of Justice Valmiki Menezes and Justice Amit Jamsandekar directed the committee to provide files of nine children identified by the CWC, North Goa, and five identified by the CWC, South Goa.
“Access to the personal files of the concerned children should be given to the Amicus Curiae and the Amicus Curiae shall take care that the identities of these children are kept confidential,” the Bench ordered.
The Court is examining the circumstances of children brought from other States and allegedly pushed into begging, beach massages and other illegal activities across Goa, including the coastal belt.
Hearing a public interest litigation filed by advocate Moses Pinto on child begging, the Bench had earlier described the situation as a “large-scale human tragedy in Goa”.
The Court has also sought details of measures taken by the Dharashiv CWC after children rescued in Goa are repatriated, including steps to ensure their education, nutrition and overall welfare.
In its latest order, the Bench granted the committee two weeks to file an additional affidavit addressing directions issued on September 23.
The committee has been asked to place the required details on record by October 31. The matter has been posted for further directions on December 1.
