probe into affairs of Thanjavur juvenile home

Disheartened' by the grave allegations of sexual exploitation of children lodged at a Juvenile Home in the state, the Madras high court has ordered a probe into the whole affairs of the home. Justice TS Sivagnanam, referring to various statutory protections available to juveniles lodged in state-run homes, directed the Social Welfare Department to probe the alleged abuse of children at the juvenile home in Thanjavur and ascertain their health condition. A detailed report shall be submitted within six months, he said. The judge was passing orders on a writ petition filed by one M Karthikeyan, whose father worked as a garden assistant at the home. In September 2008, his father was allegedly attacked and murdered by a group of six juveniles lodged at the home. Doubting the official version, the petitioner said his father kept complaining about illegal activities perpetrated by four staff members at the home, including its superintendent. The murdered Munusamy had told his family members that children at the home were being forced into homosexual relationships and that lives of several children had been spoiled. The petitioner alleged that his father was not murdered by the juveniles, but the administrators of the home. He wanted the case to be transferred to the CB-CID for an impartial inquiry. Justice Sivagnanam, rejecting the transfer plea, said there was not enough material to entrust the case to the CB-CID, and added that the Supreme Court had cautioned high courts against transferring cases casually. It should be done only in rarest of rare cases. But, expressing pain at the grave nature of the allegations levelled by the petitioner, the judge said it was a fit case where a report could be called for. Noting that juvenile homes should help the child to build his self-confidence and self-esteem, justice Sivagnanam asked the secretary of the Social Welfare and Nutritious Meal Programme Department to form a three-member committee to conduct a detailed inquiry into the facilities available at the juvenile home. If any such incidents had taken place in the past, the committee must find out what action was taken in such incidents. A report in this regard shall be submitted to the state advisory board within six months, he added. The committee shall inquire about the health condition of the juveniles at the home and ascertain if there had been any incidents of exploitation or abuse reported there. While one member could be a government nominee, others should be eminent social workers and from a voluntary organisation, justice Sivagnanam said.

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